This Friday, March 4, both Maryland legislative bodies will be considering wine shipping legislation. Currently, Maryland does NOT allow wineries in state or out-of-state to ship wine directly to consumers. The legislation to change the current law will allow Maryland to join more than 30 other states that allow direct wine shipping to consumers. Don’t wait until Friday to voice your opinions to your legislator. Contact them early this week! Your opinion counts!

The Maryland Wine website includes the following information on their website.

MARYLAND WINERIES NEED YOUR SUPPORT

“After years of gaining support in Maryland’s General Assembly, we are closer than ever to passing a law to allow Maryland citizens to receive wine by mail from wineries and wine-of-the-month clubs.

We are asking you to call or email your legislator before Friday, March 4 (the day both bills will be heard by the respective legislative committees in Annapolis) to show your support for direct-to-consumer shipment of wine.

Even with the overwhelming support of a majority of the legislator, there are interest groups hard at work to cripple the bills, trying to limit WHICH wines can be shipped, and from WHICH sources (wineries/retailers, etc.).

Please let your legislators know that you want:

– a law based on national standards and the Comptroller’s Study on Direct Shipping;

– a law that allows you to receive wine from wineries and retailers;

– a law that lets Maryland wineries ship to other states (like NY, which will only let MD wineries ship in if

MD’s law is based on national standards).

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR. If you want to be able to receive wine by mail from wineries and from wine of the month clubs, please CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR now using this form from Free the Grapes. Or call your legislator directly—they need to hear from constituents in support of HB234 and SB248.

Find Your Elected Officials

Visit the Maryland State Board of Elections page to obtain names and contact information for your elected officials.

Maryland State Board of Elections Lookup Page

http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/”

Hoping you support direct wine shipping in Maryland and that you will contact your Maryland legislators. Cheers! Kathy