FWC's Massachusetts production cap case fully briefed

The Massachusetts Attorney General's office filed its reply brief this week in the appeal of Family Winemakers of California v. Jenkins.  The case, which overturned the state's 30,000-gallon production cap law, is now fully briefed and the next step will be for the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal to schedule oral argument.  The state's reply to the Family's brief is under review to see if the state has advanced any new arguments based on the record.

Federal food safety bill has winery exemption

WineAmerica is reporting that H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, has been amended to exempt wineries from a $500 annual fee.  The bill is aimed at improving food safety in the U.S. and the fee is designed to pay for USDA efforts.  Family Winemakers of California issued a grassroots action call last week to over 100 of its members to contact key California congressional members on the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee.

Florida remains open to direct shipping

The Florida wholesalers tried every legislative maneuver they could to force a production cap bill through the process up to the end of the Florida legislative session on May 1 to no avail.  The legislature extended its session through the week of May 8 to deal specifically with budget issues, but budget language will be monitored for any attempts to bypass the normal legislative process.

Corcoran & Johnston, Family Winemakers of California's lobbying firm, were instrumental in keeping the wholesalers and their allies at bay.  This the fourth year in a row that FWC, in collaboration with the Wine Institute, has successfully lobbied to keep Florida open to all producers.

The wholesalers' 250,000-gallon production cap proposal never got out of the Florida Senate and was never heard in the Florida House.  Attempts to amend any moving House bill this past week were thwarted by hands-on lobbying. 

The impact to wine consumers in Florida is that direct-to-consumer sales will continue in 2009.  Wineries must pay excise tax and submit reports to the state.  Consumers are responsible for paying the sales/use tax.

Which wineries do direct-to-consumer sales?

Welcome to Family Winemakers of California's web site. The most value-added feature of the web site is our "Buying CA Wine" consumer map. Click there and you can simply find out if you live in a state that allows direct to consumer sales and more importantly, which Family Winemakers members are selling in your state. The list you'll find under each state will give you a direct link to that winery and its online store. Each state page contains valuable information for consumers buying wine.

Quick contact info

If you'd like to contact us you may do so by calling (916) 498-7500. Our fax number is (916) 498-7505.

Or write us a letter and mail it to:
Family Winemakers of California
520 Capitol Mall, Suite 260
Sacramento CA 95814
info@familywinemakers.org