Sommelier Business

Educating Sommeliers Worldwide.

By Beverage Trade Network

News

28 Views

Supreme Court Ruling on Retail Wine Sales Can Be Beneficial To The Wine Consumers

Photo for: Supreme Court Ruling on Retail Wine Sales Can Be Beneficial To The Wine Consumers

09/07/2019 Good News For The Wine Collectors In Search For Bottles That Are Not Available At The Local Wine Store.

The U.S. Supreme Court passed out a law in Tennessee around late June for retail wine sales. Allegedly, it can turn out to be a bonanza for the wine collectors across the country.

Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas concerned a Tennessee law which required the applicants for a retail liquor license to have lived in the state for at least two years. By abolishing the law as a violation of interstate commerce, the court’s decision potentially opens the door for more consumers to buy wine from out-of-state retailers. 

“The commerce clause says the federal government, not the states, has the right to regulate interstate commerce,” says Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR). “When [states] bar out-of-state retailers from shipping in, that's a violation.”

If we talk about the present situation, only 16 states allow consumers to buy wine from retailers outside their states. In all the other states, out-of-state sales are illegal - including 17 that allow in-state retailers to sell wine within the boundaries. 

Wine Bottles in retail store on shelves

Looking at New York - the law in New York allows in-state retailers to ship wine to New Yorkers. “It bars out-of-state retailers from doing the same thing. It’s a classic example of discrimination,” says Tom. “It’s these “discriminatory” laws—favoring in-state versus out-of-state retailers—that consumers and NAWR will work with state legislatures to reverse as soon as possible.” 

If lawmakers resist at reversing course, then according to Tom, “you file suit—you challenge the law based on the state violating the commerce clause of the constitution. We’d prefer to do it with legislation, but we're willing to go either way.”

Further shedding light on the same, Tom says that it is possible that some states would choose to say no to the out-of-state retailers by barring in-state shipping sales too - a move that wine wholesalers who oppose all retailer-to-consumer shipping are likely to push for in some jurisdictions.

“There are some states that are historically hostile, if you will, to consumer choice,” Tom says. With the change of laws and the court visits, the real consumer change may take some time, but Tom is confident that it will happen. “Once states start to see others change their laws, the ball starts to roll a little faster.”

If Tom Wark is right, fine wine consumers and collectors who are in search of bottles that aren’t available at their local wine stores are most likely to benefit. 

Most Popular

Insights

05/03/2022

The 7 Most Often Encountered Wine Faults

We overhear sommeliers, tasters, wine judges, and servers discussing wine faults. And it is unquestionably a subject to be taken seriously. However, this article will address the most common flaws here & explain how to spot them and what caused them.

Next Events

St Mary's London, Wyndham Pl, London W1H 1PQ

London Wine Competition 2025

Register Now

Morgan MFG, 401 N Morgan St Suite #204A, Chicago IL 60642

USA Trade Tasting 2025

Register Now

South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States

Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025

Register Now

Relevant Articles

Interviews

10/02/2021

Wine Happy with Chappy Cottrell

Chappy emphasizes that a sommelier’s job is done if the customer is comfortable and happy. It is important to have a conversation and never to lecture.

Suppliers Spotlight

11/06/2021

2019 Poet's Leap Riesling Wins Best Wine By Glass

Wine Of The Year By The Glass— A prominent award which was given to the 2019 Poet's Leap Riesling crafted by Long Shadows Vintners at the 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

Suppliers Spotlight

28/10/2020

Tolosa Winery: Makers of world class Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays

Being in a region with a grape-growing history that stretches back to the 18th century, when Franciscans at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa produced some of California's first wines of distinction, planting wine grapes was a natural choice.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

WANT TO GET OUR NEWS IN YOUR EMAIL?

Register and receive our weekly resume of the Sommeliers Business world.

Contact US

Want To Get In Touch!

Fill our Contact Form and let us know your thoughts and ideas.

Fill Our Contact Form

Post a job

WANT TO POST YOUR JOB REQUEST?

Register, post your job offers and get exposure.