DIRECT DELIVERY: IT’S LEGAL BUT IT’S TAKING FOREVER

Although Florida terminated their ban on direct wine delivery, the heavily regulated and confusing procedures prevent many wineries from exporting their product into the state. It’s not an overnight process. It takes time for small wineries to update their webpage, alert staff, and become familiar with each state’s various laws. As of now, Florida’s rules require wineries to report how much they sell for excise taxes by the 10th of ever months, but a bill filed in the Florida House will make the regulation process much more complex if passed. The proposal would limit wine-drinkers to ordering 219 bottles a year and create a “wine shipper license” available to wineries for $250. However, a winery must produce less than 250,000 gallons of wine annually to qualify for the license which cuts out larger producers like Gallo. The Wine Institute believes the proposal discriminates against wineries based on size although 90% of the nation’s wineries fit under that description.