The New Illinois Wine Law

Today CLTV starting airing a new piece regarding the new Illinois wine bill that will go into effect on Sunday, June 1, 2008. It is a bill that the Illinois Winemakers' Alliance has been fighting and will continue to fight. WATCH THIS STORY UNFOLD .

The governor and many other individuals consider this bill to be beneficial to Illinois wine consumers and even market it as a great thing for the Illinois wineries. What has actually happened is that the three largest wineries, creating over 60% of the wine made in Illinois, have had their rights stripped from them. Before HB 0429 passed 2nd class wineries (wineries producing over 25,000 gallons of wine per year) in Illinois were able to sell 10,000 gallons of wine direct. With the new bill, 1st class wineries (wineries producing under 25,000 gallons of wine per year were given the ability to sell 5,000 gallons direct per year, while the large wineries were stripped of all direct shipping abilities.

What does this mean to the consumer? It means that if someone loves Cooper's Hawk, Galena Cellars or Lynfred wines and wants to buy them at a restaurant, they will be paying more. The reason? The second class wineries now must go through a distributor; tacking on dollars to the consumer. We find that to be discriminatory. We are living with liquor laws from the 1930's. Ridiculous.

Tom Wark, Executive Director of the SWRA, had a commentary in the Chicago Tribune the other day that truly sums it up. Bill Daley from the Tribune followed it up with a blog, too.

Want to know more! Let us know! Email us with your questions or post a comment.

IWA Meeting Today

Lynfred GM / Director of Winemaking, Andres Basso,
and Lynfred Winery President/CEO & IWA Founder,
Fred Koehler heading out to the IWA Meeting this morning.


Another meeting of the IWA is today at the Northern Tourism Development Office in Belvidere, Illinois. Just to keep you informed, today’s agenda is:

Illinois Winemaker’s Alliance (IWA)
Agenda
I. Call to Order (Fred Koehler)

II. Report of Executive Director (Tom Stone)

A. Progress Report May 3, 2007 Meeting
B. Current Member List
C. Treasurer’s Report (Fred Koehler, Acting Treasurer)
D. Legislative Update

III. Selection of Committee Chairs
A. Budget Committee (Treasurer)
B. Marketing Committee
C. By-Laws Committee
D. Legislative Committee

IV. Review / Discuss IWA Web Site

V. Marketing Plan Ideas
A. “Friends of Illinois Wineries” Discount Card
B. Wine Discount Card (Percentage?)
- Sample Letter of Agreement
C. Vanity License Plates
D. Regional Wine Trails
E. IWA Standards
F. Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) Stamp of Approval
G. Other Ideas
VI. New Member Recruitment

VII. Executive Director Compensation (Executive Session)

VIII. Other Business

IX. Adjournment

Sadly It Effects the Growth

Unfortunately a battle has been lost that we have been fighting for quite some time now. The Illinois Wine Industry has grown from nothing to 70 wineries in the past 30 years and sadly a defeat upon its growth has occurred. We sincerely thank you for your letters to senators and all your efforts! Don’t worry, we’ll prevail!!!


State senate OKs wine sales proposal

By Kurt Ericksonkurt.erickson@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- The state Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would change how wine can be bought and sold in Illinois.

The measure, which was sent to the governor’s desk a 49-5 vote, would place a 12-case limit on how much wine a consumer can purchase directly from any winery. The current limit is two cases.

At the same time, it would bar consumers from buying wine directly from a wine distributor. Instead, they would have to buy the product from either a winery or a retailer.

The measure, in negotiations for more than two years, was triggered by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires states to treat in-state and out-of-state wineries the same.

The legislation is viewed as positive for about 95 percent of the industry in Illinois, which is comprised of 70 mostly small wineries.

Alexa Tuntland, owner of the Waterman Winery and Vineyards in northern Illinois, said the legislation has been a ’’big concern’’ among her colleagues in the industry.

’’We don’t want to lose the ability to be able to distribute our wine,’’ said Tuntland.

"It’s a good deal for me," added Rick Mamoser, owner of Prairie State Winery in Genoa. "It helps the vast majority in our industry."

Under the proposal, a small winery will be limited to distributing 5,000 gallons directly to retail stores and restaurants.

’’It’s good for consumers, we believe,’’ said Robert Myers of the Associated Beer Distributors Association of Illinois.

But larger wineries say the measure could hurt their business because it forces them to use a distributor to sell their product.

Fred Koehler, president of Lynfred Winery in Roselle, said the legislation could cost his company $150,000 to $200,000 a year.

’’It just isn’t fair,’’ said Koehler.

Scott Lawler, president of Galena Cellars in northwest Illinois, said the legislation will hurt Illinois’ fledgling wine industry.

’’This is going to shut the door on what we’ve accomplished,’’ said Lawler, whose winery also is considered among the largest in Illinois.

The legislation is House Bill 429.



Always fighting the fight. . .



Christina Anderson-Heller, with the Illinois Winemakers’ Alliance