Wine Spectator: A New Wine Legal Battle Erupts In California

Two small wineries and some prominent lawyers have launched a new front in the wine direct shipping wars, and this one is targeting a law in America’s biggest wine state. They’re asking, should alcohol producers outside of California be able to sell directly to Golden State businesses?

Under current law, California is one of many states that allow out-of-state wineries to ship directly to individual consumers. It is also one of 12 states where consumers can receive shipments from out-of-state retailers (though, in California’s case, only from states that also accept shipments from out-of-state retailers). What’s less common is that licensed California wineries can ship wines directly to California retailers and restaurants without working through a wholesaler or distributor.

Last month, two wine producers—Dwinell Country Wines (aka Dwinell Country Ales) in Washington state and Buckel Family Wine in Colorado—filed a lawsuit challenging California’s law banning out-of-state producers from selling wines directly to retailers and restaurants. The suit was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Western Division), and, combined with similar cases across the country, it could make significant waves in the wine industry. Wine Spectator has the full story.

Tagged : California, Direct Shipping, Wine Spectator

GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT 2025 ESTIMATES AND 2030 PROJECTIONS FOR THE WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRIES. ORDER YOUR 2025 IMPACT DATABANK REPORTS. CLICK HERE.