Blog
While wine lovers have enjoyed the convenience of direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping for nearly two decades, the craft spirits market is still not afforded the same access. Outdated and restrictive spirits shipping laws have kept the spirits industry from fully leveraging the benefits of DtC shipping, leaving both consumers and distillers unable to enjoy its full […]
The direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping channel has seen a continuation of movement tracked in the January release of the Sovos ShipCompliant/Wine Business Analytics Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report, with the top destination states experiencing a dip in volume and value. The latest data for the U.S. wine DtC shipping market reveals shipment data trending downward. Nationwide, […]
As craft distillers work to grow their business and market presence, they must contend with innumerable challenges, not least of which is simply being able to access consumers across the country due to restrictive state laws. To help relieve these headwinds, industry groups along with consumer advocacy organizations have taken to supporting efforts to expand […]
A new regulatory framework for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol in Alaska is set to take effect on Friday, August 23, 2024. These new rules govern how in-state and out-of-state producers can ship their products to consumers in Alaska following the passage of SB 9 in 2023, an omnibus bill that affected almost every […]
I recently had the privilege of speaking on a panel at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) Annual Conference, a regular meeting of regulators, attorneys and other members of the beverage alcohol industry to discuss important issues affecting our trade. Alongside Claire Mitchell, of Stoel Rives, and Erlinda Doherty, of Vinicola Consulting, and […]
Guest blog written by Susan DeMatei, President, WineGlass Marketing WineGlass Marketing recently conducted a study to explore how Millennials and Gen X feel about wine, wine culture and wine country. The goal was to gain insight into how we can make wine, wine club and wine country appealing to these new audiences. We’ll showcase in-depth […]
The New York legislature recently passed A3132A, a bill that will expand the range of products that residents of the state can have direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipped to them. The bill is now in the hands of Governor Kathy Hochul—meaning that unless she decides to exercise her veto power, producers across the country will soon be […]
Over May 8-9, Sovos ShipCompliant hosted its 19th annual Wine Summit. For two days, wine makers, managers, consultants, attorneys and other industry members gathered at the Napa Valley Marriott to hear from a cavalcade of experts on regulatory and marketing advice and updates related to the wine industry. 19th annual Wine Summit Recap from Presenters […]
Often, the first thing you notice about a beverage alcohol product is the label. The typeface, imagery and colors used were all meticulously chosen to say something about the product and brand. But it takes more than an eye for graphic design to create a beverage alcohol label. There are several regulatory concerns at play […]
Why is it that direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of wine is available nearly nationwide, but is only available in a dozen or so states for beer and even fewer for spirits? This is the question that underscored a recent panel I participated in alongside Steve Gross, VP of state relations for Wine Institute, and Sam DeWitt, […]
While only 11 states and D.C. allow direct-to-consumer (DtC) beer shipping, more than half of Americans ages 21+ (51%) would purchase more craft beer if they were able to have it shipped directly to their home. In this blog, we discuss the top three reasons why craft beer drinkers want beer sent directly to them […]
2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for legislative efforts related to the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol. While these proposed laws span a range of legal issues, the primary driver of the bills is expanding access to the DtC market for beer and spirits producers. Currently, 47 states and D.C. permit […]
Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping has become one of the leading sales models for businesses of all sizes and in all markets. The idea of connecting directly with consumers is notably attractive, as it helps brands develop a personal relationship and avoid costly distribution chains. Yet, for all its popularity, DtC is often a hard concept to […]
This March, Sovos ShipCompliant released the fourth annual Direct-to-Consumer Beer Shipping Report in partnership with the Brewers Association. The DtC beer shipping report features exclusive insights on the regulatory state of the direct-to-consumer (DtC) channel, Brewers Association’s perspective and key data from a consumer preferences survey. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the […]
This bill was signed into law on March 28, 2024 and takes effect July 1, 2024. Florida wine lovers could soon enjoy a bigger selection of bottles based on a recent bill passed by the state’s legislature (HR 583) that would remove the existing cap on wine bottle sizes. What is Florida’s HR 583 bill? […]
By Andrew Adams, Editor, Wine Analytics Report With another year of winery direct-to-consumer shipments tallied and analyzed, the state of Washington was the only major region tracked by Sovos ShipCompliant and WineBusiness Analytics to enjoy growth over the previous year. Compared to 2022, shipment value by Washington’s wineries grew 11% to $187 million while volume […]
A number of recent lawsuits filed by beverage alcohol producers have raised new interest in self-distribution rights, an often-overlooked area of the industry. Self-distribution is when a supplier of alcohol, such as an importer or domestic manufacturer, is authorized to sell directly to retailers without having to work with a wholesaler to get their products […]