Senator introduces bill to allow more small wineries to offer tastings, sell wine at farmers’ markets
– State Sen. John Laird announced the introduction of Senate Bill 917, legislation aimed at expanding opportunities for small wineries to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers’ markets.
Laird said the bill would allow more winemakers to connect directly with consumers by expanding who may sell wine and conduct tastings at farmers’ markets.
“California’s wine industry is facing one of the most difficult periods in decades,” said Laird. “Small wineries are closing, vineyards are being removed, and growers are leaving fruit on the vine. This bill is about giving family-scale winemakers a fair chance to connect directly with consumers, while maintaining strong public safety standards.”
The bill is sponsored by the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. The proposal updates existing law governing Type 79 farmers’ market wine permits to reflect current conditions in the wine industry and expand access for small producers.
“Independent, family-owned wineries are essential to California’s wine identity and are where innovation, sustainability, and authenticity thrive,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, chair of the Family Winemakers of California Board of Directors. “Expanding access to farmers market sales is critical for small businesses who rely on direct-to-consumer opportunities and this bill provides a fair and accessible pathway for small producers to compete and thrive.”
“Vine-to-glass speaks to the farm-to-fork and ‘buy local’ sentiment that brings folks to their farmers market,” said Michael Miiller, director of government relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “We are happy to work with Senator Laird on this important issue and thank him for his leadership.”
Under current law, winemakers may sell wine at farmers’ markets only if it is produced exclusively from estate-grown grapes, meaning all grapes must be grown on-site. Existing law also limits instructional tastings to one Type 79 permit holder per farmers market, regardless of market size or capacity.
Laird’s legislation would allow non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers’ markets and would give market operators authority to determine how many permit holders to allow. The proposal would affect more than 700 winegrowers in Senate District 17 and is intended to encourage consumers to purchase locally made wine.
“Farmers markets are one of the most effective ways for small producers to tell their story, educate consumers, and build loyal customer relationships,” Laird said. “By removing outdated barriers and trusting local market operators, we can support small wine businesses, strengthen local economies, and preserve California’s agricultural heritage.”
Laird represents the 17th Senate District, which includes Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties, along with a majority of San Luis Obispo County.
Sen. Laird represents California’s 17th Senate District, which encompasses Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties, as well as the majority of San Luis Obispo County, including Paso Robles.
Click here for more information.
