>Proposed bill would let wineries ship directly to Garden State customers
New Jersey residents are one step closer to being able to buy wine directly from Garden State vineyards and have it legally shipped to their doorsteps.
An Assembly panel gave the go-ahead Thursday for a bill permitting small wineries — those producing less than 250,000 gallons a year — both in and out of state to ship wine to New Jersey residents. It would also allow in-state wineries to sell to the public directly from their vineyards and shops.
If passed by both houses and signed by the governor, the bill (A-4436) would make New Jersey one of 38 states that allows direct shipping of wine to residents, a list that includes New York but not Pennsylvania, according to the Wine Institute, a lobbying group for California wines. Previous versions of the bill have been in the works since 2008. (Knox, NJ Spotlight)
