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Legislature
approves new rules for direct wine sales |
Local winery owners are
celebrating a change in Oregon law approved by the Legislature
shortly before the close of this year’s session, streamlining the
rules for direct-to-consumer sales.
House Bill 2171, signed into law last week, establishes a “direct
permit shipping” system for Oregon wineries, allowing them (and
other vendors licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission) to
sell directly to consumers in other states.
Previously, all wine sales had to pass through an authorized
distributor, and interstate sales were only possible through a
“reciprocity agreement” between Oregon and that of another state,
allowing two-way shipping privileges. However, a 2005 U.S. Supreme
Court case found that such reciprocity agreements were in violation
of the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
Instead, wineries in other states must now secure a shipping permit
from the OLCC, at a cost of $50 per year, allowing them to send up
to two cases of wine per month per customer.
For interstate sales, Oregon wineries must obtain equivalent
permits from the destination state (at a price set by that state’s
legislature) and pay any applicable sales tax. Packages must be
clearly labeled and signed for by a recipient age 21 or older at the
time of delivery.
Direct-to-consumer sales are a rapidly-growing segment of the wine
industry, according to research results from wine marketing group
VinterActive.
Based on their annual survey of more than 3,500 wineries
nationwide, VinterActive reported that wine club, Internet and phone
or mail orders increased 58 percent at U.S. wineries in 2006 while
tasting room and event sales fell 18 percent, bringing the 2006
total of consumer direct sales to $2.4 billion, approximately 10
percent of that year’s total wine sales across the nation. |
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From
July 18, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
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