Menu
Montecito
Pac Premier
Giving Guide
Loading...
You are here:  Home  >  Top Stories  >  Current Article

Congressional crush: Wineries fight direct shipping restrictions

By   /   Monday, September 27th, 2010  /   Comments Off on Congressional crush: Wineries fight direct shipping restrictions

    Print       Email

It’s the week before wine crush and Tablas Creek Vineyard General Manager Jason Haas is worried. Not about the grape harvest, or this year’s vintage, but about a looming piece of congressional legislation.

HR 5034, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010, or CARE, is a bill that would cede control of wine shipping back to states and limit direct shipping to out-of-state consumers. For boutique wineries like Tablas Creek, it could mean an end to out-of-state shipping to consumers and up to a one-fifth drop in sales.

“This is basically special-interest legislation and it could put our smaller wineries out of business,” Haas said, looking out over his family’s rolling Paso Robles vineyards.

The full version of this article is only available in the print edition. To view everything the Business Times offers, see this week’s print version or SUBSCRIBE to the print edition for $49.99 today.

    Print       Email