Free The Grapes - update

[Roy Hersh]

2016 has been a very busy and successful year for winery-to-consumer direct shipping! The 44 states that allow winery shipments account for nearly 94% of the US population, but there are more grapes to be freed.

Pennsylvania becomes 44th State for Winery Direct Shipping
After years of work, and all of your letters to state legislators, PA passed a wine shipping bill and started processing winery licenses in August. Just in the last two months, more than 500 wineries have received their state shipping licenses! This is very rapid progress and will dramatically expand consumer choice in the Keystone state.

Arizona removes capacity cap for mid-sized brands
Wineries producing over 20,000 gallons were previously prohibited from obtaining a direct shippers permit for sales not made at the winery (e.g., online). Under the new law signed by the Governor on March 31, permits for these wineries will be available by January 1, 2017. The successful effort in Arizona was a collaboration of local consumers, legislators and wineries. In fact, the state capitol’s main political newspaper, the Arizona Capitol Times, nominated Free the Grapes! as the “Best Grassroots Campaign” of 2016.

New Jersey campaign seeks to improve consumer choice
New Jersey is one of only two states that bans winery-to-consumer shipments from large wineries that craft more than 250,000 gallons (or 106,000 cases) in each vintage. It also prohibits many small and medium-sized wineries owned by larger wineries from shipping into New Jersey. Although New Jersey allows direct shipping, these “capacity caps” in the law greatly limit wine brands that you can have delivered. Similar caps on winery shipping have been overturned in Arizona (see above) and Massachusetts.

We believe that consumers like you, not special interests, should determine which wines you can enjoy and how you can purchase them. We have set up Free the Grapes! New Jersey, a local chapter of Free the Grapes! So, join the cause!

Write Your Legislators: Take two minutes to visit our website and personalize a message to your state legislators.
Join Facebook.com/FreetheGrapesNewJersey: News and updates and pending legislation.
Forward this Message to Your Friends and Colleagues: Legislators really do listen to consumers and we need wine lovers to speak up.
Oklahoma: Help us support positive change in 2017
During the last legislative session, OK Rep. Dan Kirby introduced favorable House Bill 2756 which, unfortunately, did not pass. Please take two minutes and visit our website to personalize a letter to your state legislators. Our message is simple: support Rep. Kirby’s plans in 2017 to introduce similar legislation. Let's see if we can get this done in '17.

Rhode Island: favorable bill died in committee
RI is one of two remaining states that continues to require consumers to first visit a winery before a direct purchase and shipment (Arkansas being the other, and Arizona is removing this requirement later in 2016). A favorable hearing in the House Corporations Committee took place on March 22nd but, unfortunately, the bill died in committee.

Thank you for your support!

Free the Grapes!