In the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session, the state authorized:
- Wineries to ship directly to Alabama homes;
- Small wineries to self-distribute to retailers plus sell directly to consumers;
- The purchase of up to a case of wine at wine festivals; and
- Wineries to locate in dry counties.
SMALL WINERIES DIRECT SALES AND SELF-DISTRIBUTION
As of Aug. 1, Alabama’s small farm wineries can self-distribute their wines to retailers and sell directly to consumers, under Act No. 2021-440.
The new law allows existing wineries that produce fewer than 50,000 gallons of wine annually with at least half of its wine made from produce grown in Alabama to sell up to 10,000 gallons directly to retailers licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. It all0ws up to 20,000 gallons to be sold directly to retailers if two separate wholesalers have refused to distribute the wine. The farm wineries can deliver to retailers via vehicles owned or leased by the winery. They also can sell directly to consumers for on- or off-premise consumption at the winery as long as the winery remits sales and other taxes to the state and local governments.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is to adopt rules to implement the act.
The governor signed the legislation by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, into law May 14. The Alabama Senate had concurred with House changes to the bill May 4.
WINERY IN A DRY COUNTY
Effective Aug. 1, a winery can open in a dry county and be licensed to manufacture wine for distribution outside of the county, under Act No. 2021-517.
“To sell, they would have to go through a distributor,” said the law’s sponsor, Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre. “This legislation does not circumvent the three-tier system.”
The governor signed Jones’ legislation into law May 26. The House approved it May 17, and the Senate passed it April 27.
OTHER 2021 WINE BILLS THAT BECAME LAW
As of Aug. 1, wineries can ship their product directly to Alabama homes
Purchasing case of wine at a wine festival in Alabama possible as of July 1
OTHER ALCOHOL LEGISLATION
Home delivery of sealed beer, wine and liquor possible by Oct. 1
Boost to daily caps for off-premise sales now law; and status of other alcohol bills
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