HB149 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Becky Nordgren

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Farm wineries, licensing, fees, distribution, and sale of wine, Secs. 28-7-4, 28-7-13, 28-7-18, 28-7-20 am'd

Summary

HB149 would allow farm wineries to sell table wine more broadly in Alabama, update licensing and tax rules, and expand how table wine can be produced, distributed, and sold.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends multiple sections to authorize farm wineries to sell table wine at retail for on- and off-premises consumption and to wholesale to licensed wholesalers, importers, or the ABC Board. It creates licensing provisions and sets license fees for farms, retailers, wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers, while allowing localities to levy taxes up to half of the state license fee. It also establishes excise taxes on table wine with specific per-liter rates, and requires monthly reporting of sales, production, and distribution. Additionally, it expands farm winery operations to include additional locations, wholesale purchases of wine and beer for on/off premises, and the production and sale of fermented table wine, including events and exports where allowed.

Who It Affects

• Farm wineries in Alabama and their employees, who would gain expanded rights to produce, sell, and distribute table wine (including on- and off-premises retail sales, multi-location operations, and certain wholesale activities).
• Wine retailers, wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers, along with counties and municipalities, who would be affected by changed license types and fees, new sourcing rules (including purchases from farm wineries), and the tax framework for table wine.

Key Provisions

• Farm wineries may sell table wine at retail for on- and off-premises consumption and may wholesale to licensed wholesalers or importers or to the ABC Board.
• License fees: wine retailer $150; wine wholesaler $550; wine importer $500; wine manufacturer $500; farm winery license $150; local privilege taxes may be imposed but cannot exceed one-half of the state license fee for similar privileges.
• Farm winery license holders may operate two additional farm winery locations beyond the primary location and may engage in activities without needing to manufacture or bottle wine at those locations; they may purchase wholesale table wine and beer for on- and off-premises consumption and may fortify wine with brandy up to 24% ABV; they may sell outside Alabama where allowed and participate in farmers markets with board approval.
• Fermented table wine produced by a farm winery may be sold directly to the board, to consumers, to licensed board holders, and in approved markets; board approval may be granted for up to five farmers markets or events not exceeding 30 days annually.
• Table wine taxes: excise tax of 0.45 per liter on retail sales and samples; monthly returns and remittances with 0.38 per liter directed to the ABC Board and 0.07 per liter to counties or municipalities; taxes on farm winery certified table wine dispensed or sold in Alabama are specified, with exclusivity of the tax framework as defined in the bill.
• Retail restrictions: wine retailers must purchase table wine only from the board, a farm winery, or licensed wholesalers; wines must be received in original containers; on-premises licensees may break bulk for on-site consumption;

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages