Act No. 10

(S.27)

Alcoholic beverages; wine; spirits; fortified wines; tastings

This act intends to improve marketing options for retail sale of wine, fortified wine, and spirits made in Vermont. Specifically the act permits:

1. Manufacturers of wine to:

a. Serve wines and beers at special events held on their premises.

b. Obtain a second class license that permits them to sell wine and beer by the bottle at their premises.

2. Manufacturers of fortified wine to:

a. Conduct tastings of their products on the licensed premises.

b. Sell their product as well as wines produced by others by the glass and by the bottle on the licensed premises.

c. Obtain up to 10 fourth class or farmers' markets licenses each year to permit them to sell their product on their premises or at a farmers' market.

3. Manufacturers of spirits to:

a. Conduct tastings and sell their product on their premises.

b. Obtain a special events permit to conduct tastings and to sell their product by the bottle at special food and beverage events.

This act also changes residency and citizenship requirements for liquor licensees so that the license holders need not be residents of either the state or the municipality in which the license is issued, but does require that the owner, a majority of the owners, or a majority of corporate directors, as the case may be, be U.S. citizens.

Date Signed by the Governor: May 5, 2009

Effective Date: On passage (May 5, 2009, the date on which the governor signed the bill)