Direct shipments of wines, that is wine sent directly to consumers homes, is said to account for somewhere in the range of 5% of all wine sales. This past week two states that have been heavily involved in the outstanding issue of wine shipping seemed to have arrived at (or neared) a resolution.
Michigan was trying to favor its own in-state retailers by allowing consumers to receive shipments of wine from Michigan retailers but prohibiting out of state retailers from shipping wine to Michigan residents. Courts ruled this to be in violation of Federal trade laws and Michigan was forced to respond. Rather than allowing all retailers to ship wine to Michigan residents, MI instead decided that NO RETAILER, out of state OR in state would be permitted to ship wine to (or within) Michigan. Sorry Michigan residents.
Then there is Massachusetts, a state that clearly aimed to favor its own wineries and leave out wineries from other states. MASS instituted a law whereby only wineries that produce under a certain amount of wine can ship their wines to consumers in MASS. (Remember that we are now talking about WINERIES & not wine retailers.) This law was instituted to virtually eliminate all the larger wineries located in States such as California, Oregon and Washington (to name a few), while allowing most of its own states’ wineries to continue shipping to MASS residents. A US district court judge ruled that volume caps were discriminatory. the likely result being that ALL WINERIES, regardless of size, will be able to ship to MASS residents. NOTE: this ruling ONLY applies to wineries and does not permit for retailers to ship wine to MASS residents.
Some interesting stuff (in my very humble opinion) giving some indications as to the direction of wine shipping within the US.
Happy LOCAL WINE SHOP wine tasting!
WTG
Tags: wine shippin
Michigan, always a step behind (Or ahead with this recession). It reminds me of that time Michigan decided a subway system was unnecessary to promote the ‘Motor City.’ Now they will not let the residents have wine shipped in? Poor people.
Well that blows since you can’t carry that many on the plane either. I hope the ruling passes so that no one has to drive it cross country!
Note to self: Buy nothing “Made in Michigan”…they are so short sighted.
Sorry car companies, that means you to…people of Michigan YOU NEED TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES.
In Michigan when you ask someone where the liquor store is they say You mean the party store? Weird and it sounds like much partyin’ will not ne happenin’. Lame.
I’ve been reading a few posts and really and enjoy your writing. I’m just starting up my own blog and only hope that I can write as well and give the reader so much insight.