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do not require this additional permit on top of
holding a federal and out-of-state license. Of
course, these permits carry fees and require re-
newals, taxes, and are subject to audits.
For a very in-depth explanation of each Sta-
te’s statues for direct shipment of wine to con-
sumers, visit the National Conference of State
Legislatures’ website here: https://www.ncsl.
org/research/financial-services-and-commer-
ce/direct-shipment-of-alcohol-state-statutes.
aspx. The Wine Institute has put together
a user-friendly website with a map of the U.S.
and links to each States’ specific rules using
common language (easier to understand than
legal jargon): https://wineinstitute.complian-
cerules.org/state-map/.

Vladimír Tetur Winery, Velké Bílovice, CZ

at a doorstep like most packages. On top of
signing requirements, you also must be very
aware of the weather and temperature condi-
tions the package will encounter on its route.
Most shipping trucks are not refrigerated, so
certain months of the year are prohibitive for
shipping wine that would be ruined if expo-
sed to 75-100°F (24-38°C) for a day or two or
longer. Within the U.S., FedEx, UPS, and DHL
are shipping companies authorized to ship al-
cohol. Even the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal
mail system, is not authorized to ship alcohol.
How does a small winery afford to ship
After all of the red tape is stripped away, their wine to all 50 States? It’s not cheap
you still have the matter of physically ship- to maintain the ability to ship Nation wide.
ping the wine. Shipping companies have One solution to this problem is the deve-
specific requirements on the packaging and lopment of fulfillment companies. These bu-
containers that can be used to ship alcohol. sinesses obtain the necessary permits and
Which also require specific statements on the licenses and usually have large warehouse
outside of the box to indicate the contents of spaces for storing pallets of wine to prepare
the box is alcohol and must be signed for by shipments throughout the country. Small and
a person verified to be 21 years of age or ol- medium-sized wineries can send their pallets
der upon delivery. So alcohol cannot be left of wine to these fulfillment companies and set
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