Legislation would open Maine’s market to wine shipped directly to consumers.

As the owners of a small Maine winery, all too often we hear the governor and other state officials say that this state is working hard for the small business owner.

I, personally, find that hard to believe.

Our industry is charged excise tax on table wine at almost four times that of the federal government’s rate, and we are restricted in the avenues in which our wines can be sold.

Legislation proposed this year would open up avenues that would not only increase revenue for Maine wineries, as well as for the state, but would also allow our business to grow by allowing suppliers to ship wine directly to Maine consumers.

In total, such sales represent only 1 percent of total wine sales in this country, but they represent 31 percent of the average small winery’s sales in other states. For those wineries, that is the difference between success and growth, or the failure of their business.

L.D.1900 will provide for Maine the same safeguards and provisions working successfully in many others states. When in place, these controls do work. I have seen this firsthand on many occasions.

As with many small wineries, I started out making wine at home as a hobby. I would buy my juice from companies in California and have them shipped directly to my home. Persons 21 or older had to sign for the package at the time of delivery. On many occasions, I would be at work when the delivery truck came to the house. My teenage daughter was not allowed to sign for the delivery of grape juice. Obviously grape juice is a nonalcoholic beverage, but because it would be for the purpose of producing alcohol she was not allowed to sign. This is due to the fact that a label was affixed to the package stating, “Must be signed for by a person over the age of 21”. This is a control that the shipping companies adhered to fully, and proof that when put in place, these controls not only can, but do work.

As a consumer, I am often disappointed at the limited choices I am presented with when shopping for wine in this state. The large distributors control the wines that comes in to the state and go onto the shelves.

What they think may be a good wine is not necessarily what I think is a good wine. Granted, there are many wines on the shelves to choose from, but I believe I should have the freedom and the opportunity to select the wine that I want – not because it was the best profit margin for the distributor, but because it is the product I am looking for.

I believe that wine lovers like myself, not the wine distributor, should be able to decide which wines we can enjoy and how we purchase them. This is a basic principle of a free-market society.

With the ability for other out-of-state wineries to sell their product here and the ability for in-state wineries to sell to other legal direct-ship states, the proposed legislation would generate extra revenue for the state through license fees and the extra excise tax. It would also give the consumer freedom of choice, one of the most basic freedoms of all.

Daniel R. Tanguay is co-owner of Tanguay & Son Winery in Lewiston.