SB234 Summary

• Defines a "small farm winery" as a licensed table wine manufacturer producing no more than 100,000 gallons annually, with at least 50 percent of production occurring on-site and at least 50 percent of fruit grown in Alabama or owning/leasing at least 5 acres of Alabama vineyards.

• Allows small farm wineries to self-distribute table wines directly to consumers and to licensed retailers, and to deliver or contract third-party carriers for delivery to Alabama residents age 21 and older.

• Requires small farm wineries to collect and remit all state and local sales, use, and excise taxes on direct-to-consumer sales, and mandates shipping containers be labeled with age restriction warnings with age verification at delivery.

• Exempts small farm wineries from Article 10 of Title 40, Chapter 23, Code of Alabama 1975 regarding alcoholic beverage distribution requirements.

• Authorizes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to adopt implementing rules and permits catastrophic loss exceptions for previously qualified wineries; becomes effective the first day of the third month following passage and approval.