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2020 SESSION


CHAPTER 1008
An Act to amend and reenact § 4.1-207 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; winery license privileges.
[S 441]
Approved April 9, 2020

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 4.1-207 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 4.1-207. Wine licenses.

The Board may grant the following licenses relating to wine:

1. Winery licenses, which shall authorize the licensee to manufacture wine and to sell and deliver or ship the wine, in accordance with Board regulations, in closed containers, to persons licensed to sell the wine so manufactured at wholesale for the purpose of resale, and to persons outside the Commonwealth for resale outside the Commonwealth. In addition, such license shall authorize the licensee to (i) operate distilling equipment on the premises of the licensee in the manufacture of spirits from fruit or fruit juices only, which shall be used only for the fortification of wine produced by the licensee; (ii) operate a contract winemaking facility on the premises of the licensee in accordance with Board regulations; and (iii) store wine in bonded warehouses on or off the licensed premises upon permit issued by the Board; and (iv) sell wine at retail on the premises described in the winery license for on-premises consumption or in closed containers for off-premises consumption, provided that such wine is manufactured on the licensed premises.

2. Wholesale wine licenses, including those granted pursuant to § 4.1-207.1, which shall authorize the licensee to acquire and receive deliveries and shipments of wine and to sell and deliver or ship the wine from one or more premises identified in the license, in accordance with Board regulations, in closed containers, to (i) persons licensed to sell such wine in the Commonwealth, (ii) persons outside the Commonwealth for resale outside the Commonwealth, (iii) religious congregations for use only for sacramental purposes, and (iv) owners of boats registered under the laws of the United States sailing for ports of call of a foreign country or another state.

No wholesale wine licensee shall purchase wine for resale from a person outside the Commonwealth who does not hold a wine importer's license unless such wholesale wine licensee holds a wine importer's license and purchases wine for resale pursuant to the privileges of such wine importer's license.

3. Wine importers' licenses, which shall authorize persons located within or outside the Commonwealth to sell and deliver or ship wine, in accordance with Board regulations, in closed containers, to persons in the Commonwealth licensed to sell wine at wholesale for the purpose of resale, and to persons outside the Commonwealth for resale outside the Commonwealth.

4. Retail off-premises winery licenses to persons holding winery licenses, which shall authorize the licensee to sell wine at the place of business designated in the winery license, in closed containers, for off-premises consumption.

5. Farm winery licenses, which shall authorize the licensee to manufacture wine containing 21 percent or less of alcohol by volume and to sell, deliver or ship the wine, in accordance with Board regulations, in closed containers, to (i) the Board, (ii) persons licensed to sell the wine so manufactured at wholesale for the purpose of resale, or (iii) persons outside the Commonwealth. In addition, the licensee may (a) acquire and receive deliveries and shipments of wine and sell and deliver or ship this wine, in accordance with Board regulations, to the Board, persons licensed to sell wine at wholesale for the purpose of resale, or persons outside the Commonwealth; (b) operate a contract winemaking facility on the premises of the licensee in accordance with Board regulations; and (c) store wine in bonded warehouses located on or off the licensed premises upon permits issued by the Board. For the purposes of this title, a farm winery license shall be designated either as a Class A or Class B farm winery license in accordance with the limitations set forth in § 4.1-219. A farm winery may enter into an agreement in accordance with Board regulations with a winery or farm winery licensee operating a contract winemaking facility.

Such licenses shall also authorize the licensee to sell wine at retail at the places of business designated in the licenses, which may include no more than five additional retail establishments of the licensee. Wine may be sold at these business places for on-premises consumption and in closed containers for off-premises consumption. In addition, wine may be pre-mixed by the licensee to be served and sold for on-premises consumption at these business places.

6. Internet wine retailer license, which shall authorize persons located within or outside the Commonwealth to sell and ship wine, in accordance with § 4.1-209.1 and Board regulations, in closed containers to persons in the Commonwealth to whom wine may be lawfully sold for off-premises consumption. Such licensee shall not be required to comply with the monthly food sale requirement established by Board regulations.