For out-of-state wine retail shipping advocates, a small legal victory in Rhode Island gives hope for bigger things. Read the latest wine news & features on wine-searcher
In another anti-shipping development, the Tennessee legislature is considering a bill that would prevent wineries from using fulfillment houses to ship wine to its residents. Direct shipping by out-of-state wineries was specifically allowed by the US Supreme Court in the 2005 Granholm v Heald case. The proposed Tennessee law is a novel approach to restricting it, and if successful could be pursued in legislatures across the country.
All in all, this could be the worst week for wine shipping in the 16 years since the landmark Granholm decision. And it comes at a particularly bad time, as consumers nationwide during the pandemic are ordering more things online.