Blog
How much can change in fifteen years? It was May 2005 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Granholm v. Heald, one of the most consequential beverage alcohol-related cases the Court has heard. The case challenged laws in Michigan and New York that permitted in-state wineries to make direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipments to their […]
Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol products is a $3 billion dollar market that continues to grow annually. DtC shipping can be a great way to grow your business by reaching new audiences, expanding your customer base, and increasing your sales. But, before you can take advantage of this growing market, there are some steps […]
Do you have questions about the rules, regulations, and compliance requirements of the beverage alcohol industry? This series, Ask Alex, is a perfect opportunity to get those pressing questions answered straight from one of the industry’s regulation and market experts, Alex Koral, Senior Regulation Counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant. To take advantage of this opportunity and get […]
To be an expert, one has a specialty. Ours is beverage alcohol compliance. Since compliance sits at the heart of operations, being connected at every step helps our customers focus on their business instead spending countless hours on manual processes. Compliance is challenging, but we make it easier with a large and robust network of […]
Our recent webinar with WineDirect and Enolytics, Post-Pandemic Planning: Customer Engagement for the Road Ahead, was a timely topic that drew lively Q&A—too many to address in our allotted hour! Here are our panelists’ take on the most-surfaced themes in your questions. (Missed the live webinar? You can still access the recording and slides on […]
The direct-to-consumer wine shipping channel continues to grow each year, with a 7.4 percent increase in value and 4.7 percent increase in volume in 2019. But starting mid-March 2020, as the pandemic progressed, and buying patterns shifted to rely heavily on ecommerce, we’ve seen a significant spike in growth over last year’s numbers. The DtC […]
As of April 28, 2020 the state of New York and the alcohol suppliers within its borders will now be able to streamline the process of filing brand registrations and renewing licenses. With Sovos ShipCompliant’s Product Registration Online (PRO) tool, the process and cost of getting registrations approved for beer, wine and spirits will greatly […]
Younger or less experienced wine consumers may find speaking with a wine expert at a tasting room or wine retailer intimidating. There is plenty of wine-specific terminology that consumers outside of the wine industry may find opaque or confusing. Don’t underestimate the role that even seemingly basic education can play in helping convert customers. At […]
Sales tax always has been, and always will be, an integral part of compliance for wineries, especially for those shipping direct-to-consumer (DtC). In recent years the standards for determining who is obligated to collect sales tax and at what rates has changed due to evolving legislation like the Supreme Court case South Dakota v. Wayfair. […]
On April 7, 2020, Kentucky became the latest state to adopt rules clearly permitting the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcoholic beverages. As established in HB 415, Kentucky residents will soon be able to purchase and receive shipments of beer, wine and spirits from licensed producers across the country. That this bill includes all types of […]
By: Jason Haas Jason Haas is the second generation proprietor at Tablas Creek Vineyard, the pioneering Rhone specialist in Paso Robles, California. In addition to his work overseeing the operations there, he serves on the board of directors of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Rhone Rangers, and Free the Grapes. Back in 2017, […]
If you are looking to boost sales and highlight direct-to-consumer wine shipping, email marketing can be a great way to do so—perhaps now more than ever in this time of social distancing, when communicating through technology has never been more relevant. Email marketing in particular can be a significant part of how your winery stays […]
Overcoming the challenges of social distancing is proving difficult for many industries during the time of COVID-19. The inability to interact face-to-face with customers is hampering sales efforts for most. However, some of our clients are getting creative in finding ways to stay connected with their target audiences. At a time when wineries can’t rely […]
The annual Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report is full of data that can help you make strategic operational and marketing decisions for your business. Out of the dense 36-page report, Alex Koral, Senior Regulatory Counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant, and Andrew Adams, Editor, Wine Analytics Report, a part of Wines Vines Analytics unpack 11 key statistics and offer […]
It seems as if, in a few short weeks, the entire world has been turned upside down. In response to the coronavirus crisis, society has adopted emergency measures to stem the tide of the virus, with companies shifting to remote work or shuttering wholly, and people adjusting to social distancing or more extreme quarantine measures. […]
The coronavirus has moved from being a panic to a pandemic over the last few weeks, leading to mass closures and social distancing, and capturing all of our attention. The news is replete with stories of cancelled events and ways to cope with the reality of a modern plague. Heavily dependent on tourism and entertainment, […]
For the most up-to-date information on retailer DtC shipping rules, visit this page. This post was updated on January 4, 2024. In August 2017, Missouri repealed rules that previously permitted limited direct to consumer (DtC) sales of wine by licensed retailers. This rule change highlighted the complexities surrounding retailer DtC sales. This is the second […]