Arcane Law Puts Winemaker s Investment at Risk
The biggest winemaker in the U.S. wants to invest $400 million in South Carolina, but it s not that simple.
Apr 23rd, 2021
South Bend Winery owner Larry Cozine testifies about a bill allowing wine giant E & J Gallo Winery to open wine tasting rooms as part of building a new $400 million bottling plant and distribution center in South Carolina on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. Cozine recently opened his winery in Greenwood, South Carolina.
AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The biggest winemaker in the U.S. wants to open an East Coast bottling and distribution center in South Carolina, investing $400 million and hiring up to 500 people. But its request for open tasting rooms where the public can sample wines has some lawmakers and small businesses crying sour grapes.
S Carolina quirky liquor laws give sour grapes to wine giant
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S Carolina quirky liquor laws give sour grapes to wine giant
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Wine giant fights South Carolina s quirky liquor laws Follow Us
Question of the Day
By JEFFREY COLLINS - Associated Press - Thursday, April 22, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The biggest winemaker in the United States wants to open an East Coast bottling and distribution center in South Carolina, investing $400 million and hiring up to 500 people.
But it isn’t the taxpayer money and other typical incentives being offered to E & J Gallo Winery that is making the efforts struggle at the South Carolina Legislature.
Instead, it’s the California winemaker’s request to open tasting rooms where people can sample their wines that has caused the bill to grind slowly through the Legislature in a state where quirky alcohol laws protect small retailers and harken back to the days of saloons and booze only in private clubs.