Get To The Bottom Of Wine Shipping
The red states do not allow wine shipments. Image from freethegrapes.org
There 10 states that flat out dont allow wine to be shipped directly to you . What this image doesnt show you is that there are several states with additional rules and fees, making it hard for small wineries to deliver their wines to you. Lets look at some of the details on the archaic laws of wine shipping:
- If you live in Alabama you have to get special prior written approval from the Alcohol Beverage Control Board and prepay for deliveries.
- If you live in Utah youre a criminal if you bring more than 2 bottles of wine home from your travels.
- If you live in Arizona or New Mexico you can only receive 2 cases of wine annually thats only one bottle every two weeks!
- If you live in Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, wineries must buy a yearly permit just to ship to you.
- If you live in New Jersey large wineries cant ship you wine. No Gallo
- If you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska or Maryland you can pretty much get whatever you want, as long as they can get it to you.
What Do I Do If I Have An Address Change
If you are a Club Vivant Wine Club member, it is your obligation to notify Club Vivant of any address changes at least 2 weeks before the scheduled club shipment date. Mumm Napa Club Vivant will not be responsible for shipping charges incurred due to misdirected or returned wines. A restocking fee may be applied to returned shipments. No insurance for heat or cold damage is provided by the shipper. In extreme weather conditions at the point of origin, your wine may be held until it is safer to ship.
Only 14 States Legally Allow Buyers To Have Wine Shipped From Retailers In Other States
The once largely-ignored regulations for interstate wine shipping have seen their enforcement ramped up in recent years.
The internet has changed commerce in innumerable ways. Look no further than major retailer compared to brick-and-mortar decline. But just as some companies are ahead of the curve and some are behind, the law and law enforcement have also struggled to keep up with the ramifications of changing technology, creatingor alteringlegal gray areas. Interstate wine shipments fit into this category. At first, being able to buy wine from across the country at the click of a button seemed like a wine drinkers dream, but as the New York Times recently discussed, for now, the opening of that Pandoras box has actually made interstate wine sales more difficult than ever before.
Alaska, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wyoming: Those are the only 14 states that allow wine to be shipped to consumers from out-of-state retailers, according to the Times. .
Wholesalers have been looking at this issue for quite some time, Daniel Posner, president of the National Association of Wine Retailers, told the paper. They went to state liquor authorities and said, People arent following the laws. Now its all coming to a brutal end.
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Is This A Control State For Wine
No license required to sell to licensed wholesalers
How much does the license cost?
Do I need to have money held in bond?
Is there a representative license?
Do I need to register products first?
Do I need to Post Prices?
Do I need to file my Distributor Agreements with the state?
Do I need to file my Territory Assignments with the state?
Are there rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments?
There Are A Few Zip Code Restrictions
Local laws prevent us from shipping to certain zip codes that are considered “dry zip codes” in Alaska, Florida, Idaho and New Hampshire. We do ship to most of the zip codes in these states, but our system will tell you if the zip code you enter is one that is excluded by law at the time the order is placed, after the shipping address and zip code is entered.
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We Are Having Extreme Weather Conditions Will My Delivery Be Safe
Total Wine & More may hold a wine shipment during extremely hot weather to protect the quality of items purchased. These occurrences are most likely during summer months in southwestern states. When we temporarily hold your shipment, well notify you by email. Well also post a message on TotalWine.com so shoppers know new orders may be delayed.
Wine Shipping Laws In The Us
From wholesale and direct shipping laws to state-issued permits, wineries need to follow a set of regulations to legally ship wine across the US. At the time of this writing, more than 50% of the states allow direct shipping to consumers, but certain restrictions may still apply.
For example, there might be an annual limit of cases per customer and some counties may prohibit on or off-premises sale, or even ban alcoholic beverages altogether. This article will help you get a better understanding of wine shipping rules for each state. Youll also learn more about the history of these regulations and how theyve changed.
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How To Mail Alcohol Out
When you cross state lines, the shipment of alcohol becomes more difficult. That its because you now must meet the requirements and regulations in both the state youre shipping from and the state youre shipping to.
There is a loophole that helps consumers ship beer, liquor, and wine to other states if that other state permits the shipment of alcohol to consumers. Instead of shipping a bottle from your state to their state, simply find a retailer based in the state youre shipping to and order it from that retailer. That way the retailer wont need to cross state lines and only meet the rules of their states alcohol regulation board.
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Going Back To The 21st Amendment
The majority of the US liquor laws that include shipping regulations came after the 21st amendment effectively ended the Prohibition. That said, specific shipping requirements and permits were, and still are, up to state governments.
Bear in mind, these laws had been in effect long before UPS, FedEx, and other carriers. To make things more complicated, some states require a winery or retailer to be physically present in the state to be eligible for direct shipping. As for the most restrictive states, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Utah top the list.
However, the laws dont only apply to wine businesses, but they also effectively make individuals subject to penalties. For example, it would be illegal to send a bottle of wine to your friend in New York if you live in Montana. To avoid penalties such as these, some carriers have introduced rules of their own.
You would need special agreements if you were to ship via UPS and FedEx. On the other hand, the United States Postal Service refuses alcohol shipments altogether. But is there a silver lining?
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Tax And Compliance For Dtc Retailers
Retailers must also follow specific tax rules. Every state that allows retailer DtC shipping, except for Alaska and D.C., require the seller to collect and remit both excise taxes and sales taxes for the state they ship into. Most states also require a regular report from the retailer detailing the DtC sales they have made, though this is often coupled with an excise tax return.
While retailers should already have a handle on managing sales taxes for sales made at their licensed premises, once they begin engaging with DtC shipping they will be faced with a much bigger burden handling sales taxes in all the states they ship into. This can get complicated, because the correct sales tax rate is based on the customers exact deliver-to address, which can be some combination of state, county, city, and special district rates. Some states do make it easy by having a single state-wide sales tax rate, but there are places where the tax rate can be different depending on what side of the street a shipment goes to.
This can make the process of collecting and remitting tax very difficult depending on the state. Tax returns that are still reliant on paper forms or more manual filings processes can also make things difficult for a retailer now dealing with tax policies in several states at once. More states are moving toward simplified online filings, but properly collecting and remitting sales tax remains a major burden for DtC alcohol shippers.
What Are The Federal Laws For Online Alcohol Sales & Delivery
The laws concerning direct-to-consumer sales of alcohol are a bit convoluted and typically handled on a state by state basis. Because third-party apps use local vendors and delivery persons to carry out orders, as long as they comply with all explicitly stated state laws regarding the shipment, sale, and delivery of alcohol, their services are largely considered legal.
Out of state shipments are more clearly regulated in state laws, so manufacturers should read thoroughly to be sure they are in compliance in both the state they are shipping from and the state they are shipping to.
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Wine Shipping Laws In The United States
Wine shipping laws in the United States differ between states and are controlled by state law. While most alcohol sales are controlled by the three-tier system, nearly all states now permit some form of direct shipping of wine from wineries to consumers. Most states require wineries to pay for a permit in order to ship to consumers in the state, resulting in a winery-dependent slate of states that it may ship to. Direct wine shipments are also typically subject to sales and/or excise taxes. Most states also limit the quantity of wine that may be purchased monthly or annually, usually in terms of the number of nine-liter cases of wine that may be shipped, though most consumers are unaffected by these limits. Shipment of wine to dry areas is illegal.
In the 2005 case Granholm v. Heald, the Supreme Court ruled that states must regulate direct shipment of wines to consumers from in-state and out-of-state wineries in the same way, either allowing or banning both. Since that ruling, more states gradually began to allow direct shipment of wine from wineries to consumers. Some states also allow direct shipment of wine from out-of-state retailers to consumers.
How To Ship Alcohol Legally In All 50 States
We live in a world of e-commerce, where we have everything from groceries to furniture to medicine and everything in-between delivered directly to our homes. However, this doesnt apply to the alcohol industry and selling alcohol online.
WHAT WELL COVER:
Thats because shipping beer, spirit, or wine to consumers comes with its own set of rules and regulations that presents a bigger challenge than simply boxing up a bottle and dropping it in a mailbox.
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Why Must I Select A State Before Shopping
We ship from multiple warehouses due to state laws, so PRICES AND SELECTION MAY VARY depending on which state you ship to PLEASE start shopping on Wine.com by first using the state drop-down menu to select the state where you want your items delivered. Once you choose your desired delivery state, our site will adjust the selection we offer to ensure you are only shown items that we can legally ship to that state. CHANGING STATES FROM YOUR CART MAY CHANGE YOUR ORDER! To avoid this unfortunate experience, it is best practice to empty your cart and select your state before you shop!
How To Pack Wine Bottles
The best way to pack wine depends on how they are traveling. If youre driving, guard against extreme temperature changes. Wine can be a bit like Goldilocks one temperature is too hot, another is too cold.
Make sure your wine stays just right by keeping bottles away from direct sunlight. Insulate them by wrapping them in clothing. Travel with an insulated cooler and store them in there, and ensure the cooler is out of direct sunlight as you drive along this will help keep the temperature constant.
On planes, you cant take wine with you in carry-on luggage. However, as part of Alaska Airs mileage plan program, wine flies free on Alaska Air/Horizon Air from Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport . Alaska Air/Horizon Air offers direct daily flights to and from Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland , San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Seattle . One carrier-approved packed case will fly home free .
Or, wine can be packed in your checked luggage.
The best way to pack a bottle to be transported in your luggage is to use a Wine Skin, which is sold at many winery gift shops. The bubble-wrap lined bag fits snuggly over the bottle. It has a strong seal that ensures the wine wont leak out on your clothing if the bottle does break.
If you dont have a Wine Skin , pack the bottle in a waterproof bag. Then, wrap the bag with clothing or bubble wrap. If you have more than one bottle, make sure theres cushioning in between each one.
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At Wine To Ship We Have Something For Every Occasion
There are so many reasons to celebrate- from getting promoted to completing college to getting married to the one you cherish, there are infinite reasons and Wine to Ship prides itself with having something for every occasion that calls for celebration. Whether you need a full spread of alcohol for a big party or just a couple bottles of wines for relaxing at home, we make the process seamless and stress free for you.
Placing our liquor store online is a strategic attempt to make you enjoy our service, like a king, from the comfort of your abode. We offer you much more variety than youll find at your local store. With our wide collection of both imported and domestic beverages, you can find all of your favorite specialty drinks without the hassle of driving around from store to store to find them. With hundreds of brands to choose from, youll find all of your favorite wines, beer, spirits and more from all over the world in our online liquor store.
Wine to Ship is your gateway to an exciting world of thrill and good taste. Undecided on what to pick? Not to worry. Our highly trained and experienced team offers creative suggestions and inputs whether you are a wine connoisseur or a weekend warrior.We provide accurate knowledge of tastes and mixture to best fit your taste preference. From our weekly emails and specials to our active website, why go to the store? You get all access to the latest and greatest as soon as its available!
Licensed Retailer Dtc States
If a retailer receives a DtC license, they may sell out-of-state directly to customers in Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota, Louisiana, West Virginia, Virginia, New Hampshire, Florida, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. However, there are some unique situations:
- Alaska, Florida and D.C. do not require an actual DtC license, but do have a set of DtC compliance rules that must be followed.
- In Nevada, DtC shippers must obtain a Certificate of Compliance. While this certificate is normally for producers, retailers can apply if they send in an affidavit in lieu of a Federal Basic Permit, indicating that they are in good standing with their local alcohol board.
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How To Ship Alcohol Overseas
You’ve fallen in love with a Bordeaux produced at a small French vineyard, and you can’t imagine life without this fruity concoction. Unluckily for you, however, “once you’re changing countries, gets exponentially more difficult,” says Weinberg. First, Weinberg advises, you will have to “make sure the product can be legally shipped into the destination without a permit.” You can check this guide to see your state’s individual regulations. If you don’t, your “product could be seized, quarantined, or destroyed,” warns Weinberg. And no one wants that, do they? Shipping out of the U.S. into another country will require you to brush up on state and federal export rules and the import rules of whichever country you’re sending it to . Good luck. Once again, it’s probably best to go through a retailer or distributor.
Weinberg also recommends that you confirm with the retailer or distributor if any taxes or duties need to be paid on the product you intend to ship. If so, they should be able to advise you on how to pay them, and how much they will cost you. Lastly, “purchase from a reputable dealer who knows the ins and outs of laws, and ideally has experience shipping to your destination of choice,” Weinberg advises.
In short, as much as you might like to personally pick up, wrap and send a bottle of booze as a gift, this is one task better left to professionals.
What If My State Is Not Listed In Here
If your state is not listed here, please phone us at the winery – 800.686.6272 – to inquire about your state.
If you want to learn more about wine shipping to your state, visit the Wine Institute’s website section on shipping laws: Or visit Free the Grapes at . The list of eligible states subject to change so please call 800.686.6272 with questions.
Sign up for our e-list and we’ll let you know if your state opens up to direct shipping of wine!
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