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Michigan Senate reaches compromise allowing wine shipments

LANSING, Mich. — Wineries inside and outside of Michigan could directly ship up to 1,500 cases of wine a year to state residents under compromise legislation that received bipartisan support Wednesday from a Senate committee.

The panel voted 5-0 to approve two bills, which would require vintners to get a $100 state license to send wine directly to consumers. The full Senate is expected to pass the legislation Thursday and send it to the House.

“I’m glad the wineries here in Michigan will be able to ship directly to consumers,” said Sen. Michelle McManus, a Lake Leelanau Republican who is sponsoring one bill. “I think that’s a basic right they’ve enjoyed for a number of years and will continue to enjoy because we’ve reached this compromise.”

The legislation would let Michigan consumers buy wine from out-of-state wineries, a victory for wine enthusiasts. Unlike a bill approved in the House, it also would allow vintners to distribute wine on their own to restaurants and retailers.

Michigan’s 42 wineries had complained that curtailing that activity would drastically harm their sales.

Direct shippers would pay taxes to the state under the bills. Wineries also would have to obtain a faxed copy of the buyer’s driver’s license or use an age-verification service to make sure minors couldn’t buy alcohol on the Internet.

The Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, a key group involved in the debate over wine shipments, supports the compromise.

— David Eggert, Associated Press

-- November 30, 2005

Posted by mardenhill 12/01/2005 08:45:00 AM  

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