Massachusetts Opens For Direct-Shipping

Massachusetts, the seventh-ranked wine-consuming state in the U.S., according to Impact Databank, opened to direct wine-shipping on January 1. Under the state budget signed by Governor Deval Patrick last July, any winery in the U.S. may obtain a Massachusetts wine-shipping permit for $300, with residents allowed to purchase up to 12 cases a year for home delivery. According to the Boston Globe, Massachusetts officials have so far received applications for licenses from 91 wineries, predominantly from the West Coast.

In addition to wineries, delivery services must also hold permits for each vehicle carrying wine under the new law. The Globe reports that FedEx—which will start shipping wine to Massachusetts February 1—currently holds 1001 such licenses, and has applied for another 700. UPS holds 80 licenses, while the U.S. Postal Service hasn’t yet applied for any. ShipCompliant, a shipment-tracking and compliance service for wineries, told the Globe that it forecasts that direct-shipping of wine to the Bay State will total $73 million by 2018, and $105 million by 2023.

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Tagged : Boston Globe, FedEx, ShipCompliant, UPS

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