Tennessee Opens to Direct to Consumer Sales

According to the Tennessee legislative webpage, Governor Phil Bredesen signed SB0166/HB 1155 into law on June 4^th, legalizing direct shipments by wineries to Tennessee consumers.  This is a pretty reasonable direct shipping bill, requiring a $300 fee and $150 annual renewal, payment of excise and sales taxes and the usual adult signature requirements.  The consumer volume limitation is no more than 9-liters per consumer in a month and 27 liters (3 standard cases) per year.  This is a big step forward for consumer direct shipping as it is another state adapting reasonable rules in conformance with successful direct to consumer shipping programs in other states, a trend seen recently in Kansas and hopefully soon, Maine.  I haven’t seen an effective date but will get out the details once I have them.  Still waiting to find out on the status of Maine, which is pending before their governor.