Larkin Bill Allows Local Wines To Be Sold At Farm Stands

The State Senate has passed legislation (S.1397) sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) that would give the state’s farm wineries assistance in marketing their products and allow them to sell wine by the bottle for off-premise consumption at farm roadside stands.

The bill would license farm stands to sell wine from up to two wineries that are located within 20 miles of the stand. All sales will be in sealed bottles for off-premise consumption and no wine tastings would be allowed at the farm stand. The bill provides that sales can only occur during the same hours as other retail wine outlets. In addition, the bill requires that all wine must be secured at night so that minors cannot access it.

"Hudson Valley winery owners have told me that it would tremendously help their marketing and profits if they could sell their locally produced wine at farm stands," said Senator Larkin. "Current law requires farm stands to go through the same rigorous licensing process as a full-time wine shop if they are going to sell any kind of wine. This is impractical for small area farms that are only trying to sell a limited number of products at a roadside stand. This bill simply gives farmers another local product to sell. It helps both the farmers and the local wineries."

The bill is supported by the New York State Farm Bureau.

It was sent to the Assembly.