Legal Issues

This section provides information and resources about legal issues affecting the winemaking industry.

Direct Wine Shipping

North Carolina residents are allowed to receive by direct shipment up to two cases of wine per month per winery. This wine may come from wineries within the state or from other states.

Since North Carolina is considered a permit shipping state, North Carolina wineries may ship directly to residents in other states following specific rules for each state regarding quantity shipped, permit procedures and costs.

For more information on direct shipping of wine, visit these links:

• Senate Bill 668 regarding wine shippers' permits from 2003 North Carolina legislation
• Free The Grapes tells about this grass roots effort to ensure consumer access to wine.
• The Wine Institute web site provides details of interstate shipping laws and California wine-related issues and laws.
• Family Winemakers of California follows direct wine shipping issues.
• Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America presents the other side of the issue related to wine wholesaling and the three-tier system in the U.S.
• ShipCompliant Blog provides an industry news blog informing you about wine direct shipping compliance.
• Compli's DirectShipLicense offers details on direct shipping state requirements, applications, forms and permits.  See also the direct shipping news and legal updates.

Other North Carolina Laws

• Zoning for wineries: Governed by local zoning offices.
• Personal importation: A person may bring into North Carolina or transport within the state up to 50 Liters of wine.
• Laws governing starting a winery: see the Starting a Commercial Winery section.
• Alcoholic Beverage Control: see Alcoholic Beverage Control permits section. See also the Alcoholic Beverage Control website
• Wine Producer Permit, Wine Tasting Permit, Wine sales by the glass:
  Session Law 2001-2, Senate Bill 823: An Act to Promote the North Carolina Grape and Wine Industry.