The high court is expected to rule in the coming months on whether states can ban wine shipments from out-of-state sources, while allowing intrastate shipments.
Within Maryland, policymakers are divided over whether to allow intrastate shipping of wine. The Maryland comptroller does not support direct shipment, the report noted. And wine distributors are likely to oppose direct shipment as well.
Wineries now must go through distributors to get their products into the hands of consumers. The system gives an advantage to larger wineries, including national ones.
"It's very difficult to get [distributors] to carry our product. We're one of the smallest wineries in the state. We make 1,500 gallons of wine a year. There are relatively no wholesalers in the state who would consider carrying our product. They want to sell that much wine a month," said Jan Luigard, an owner of the eight-year old Penn Oaks Winery in Silver Spring.
The two bills, sponsored by state Sen. Donald F. Munson (R-Washington), contain less controversial measures that have the support of wine producers and distributors.
One bill would establish a Maryland Wine Promotion Council and a $250,000 fund that would allow industry groups to apply for grants for promotion, education and research about Maryland wine and grapes.
Luigard, who sells his wines mainly at wine festivals, supports the idea of promoting Maryland wine. "If you are a California winery, not even one of the big three [wine makers], you get the benefit of their advertising," he said. "Advertising for Maryland wine is almost nonexistent."
The other bill based on the Wine & Grape Advisory Committee report would create a "light wine" license in every county that allows wineries to sell wines on site. The measure would streamline the patchwork of regulations.
The bill also would exempt small U.S. wineries -- those producing less than 250,000 gallons a year -- from local tasting limits, which vary by county.
The legislation is an attempt to change the status quo in which "big accounts get tastings and Maryland wineries can't get in," said Atticks. "One tasting will go to Mondavi. One will go to Australian wines. And the local wines don't break out of that."
The Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on both measures March 1. The bills now go to the Senate Finance Committee for further review, said an aide to Munson.
