HB760 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Farm wineries, licensing, fees, distribution, and sale of wine, Secs. 28-3-1, 28-7-13, 28-7-18, 28-7-22 am'd

Summary

HB760 would define and authorize farm wineries to produce, license, distribute, and sell table wine, creating a new licensing framework, tax structure, and ownership rules for farm-produced table wine in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would create a farm winery license and define farm wineries and table wine; allow farm wineries to produce up to 50,000 gallons of table wine annually from Alabama-grown grapes and sell it directly on site or to licensed wholesalers, retailers, or out-of-state buyers under specific rules; impose a total excise tax of 0.45 per liter on table wine dispensed or sold at retail—with 0.38 to the state board and 0.07 to counties or municipalities—plus monthly reporting, while exempting farm wineries from the tax when selling to wholesalers or exporting; and require license fees for various wine businesses and enforce separation of financial interests among different license classes to prevent cross-ownership.

Who It Affects

• Farm wineries and their license holders would gain a formal farm winery license, a defined production cap (50,000 gallons/year), and new rights to sell table wine on site and to retailers/wholesalers (including some out-of-state sales under rules).
• Wine wholesalers, retailers, importers, and manufacturers, as well as counties and municipalities, would face new or adjusted license fees, excise taxes on table wine, distribution rules, and local tax collection requirements, along with restrictions to keep financial interests separate among license classes.

Key Provisions

• Defines Farm Winery as a limited manufacturer producing up to 50,000 gallons of table wine annually from Alabama-grown grapes, with total production across its facilities
• Creates a Farm Winery license and sets license fees: Farm winery $150; Wine retailer $150; Wine wholesaler $550; Wine importer $500; Wine manufacturer $500
• Allows Alabama-grown table wine to be sold directly by licensed manufacturers on their premises or to wholesalers/retailers, with on-premises or off-premises consumption and a 75% Alabama-grown fruit requirement for some direct sales
• Permits farm wineries to sell table wine produced outside Alabama as allowed by other states, and to sell on their premises table wines produced at the farm from native grapes to wholesalers/retailers licensed in Alabama
• Imposes a total excise tax of 0.45 per liter on table wine dispensed or sold at retail, with 0.38 per liter to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and 0.07 per liter to counties/municipalities, plus monthly reporting; farm wineries are exempt from this tax when selling to wholesalers or exporting
• Requires separation of financial interests among license classes to prevent cross-ownership, with specific restrictions on ownership, stock, and lending between licensees
• Effective date is the first day of the third month following passage and governor approval

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