Wineries sour on Mass. law change

BOSTON – An amendment to a Massachusetts law set to go into effect Jan. 1 could limit small wineries’ abilities to ship directly to retailers, The Boston Globe reported last week.
The Direct Wine Shipper License law was amended in July 2014 to only allow small wineries to directly ship small amounts to individuals of legal drinking age, but only for personal use. While it was meant to restrict out-of-state wineries’ ability to sell directly to Massachusetts retailers, legislators say it inadvertently took that right away from everyone, the website said.
The Mass. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission sent the advisory on Nov. 21, stipulating that unless the law is changed, wineries wishing to sell to retailers must now work through a state wholesale company.
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, which oversees the alcohol-industry regulations, told the Boston Globe that this appears to be an oversight. However, no changes have yet been made, and these small producers are still facing the impending shift in their business as the end of the year approaches.
“Now we have to give 30 percent of our business to a distributor versus being able to throw it into a van and send it out to a restaurant,” said Ralph Bruno, owner of Boston Winery in Dorchester. •

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