Direct Wine Shipping Measure Is Signed

President Bush signed into law a Justice Department appropriations bill that includes a provision allowing wine purchased at wineries to be shipped to customers’ home states even if those states prohibit direct shipments of alcohol.

The provision was inserted by a bipartisan group including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley). Although it isn’t likely to generate much revenue for California wineries, it puts Congress on record as supporting direct shipping, at least in a limited way. Only a few states that prohibit consumers from carrying wine across their borders will be exempt from the law.