The beverage alcohol industry might no longer be strictly viewed as a “boys’ club,” but there are a minority of women leading organizations in the space. However, the number of women-led wineries, breweries and distilleries is on the rise, which – as we’ll explain – is likely a very positive thing for the industry. Let’s […]
Unless Congress is able to pass an appropriations bill in the next few days, the U.S. government is set to shut down all nonessential services effective October 1, 2023. This will include (among many other agencies) the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which will impact the beverage alcohol industry. If the shutdown […]
A trend of the last few years has been the surge in new products entering the beverage alcohol market, from hard seltzers to RTD cocktails, along with the entry of well-established, traditionally non-alcoholic brands, like Hard Mountain Dew and Simply Spiked. While the growth of hard soft drinks is great for consumers, who benefit from […]
There may only be two certainties in life, but consumer preferences are still undoubtedly going to evolve over time. This is definitely true in the direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine industry. Whether consumers are pushing for greater sustainability, increased transparency through a brand’s marketing or want something else entirely, wineries must work to incorporate that into their […]
While the wave of litigation to remove legal barriers to retailer direct-to-consumer (DtC) keeps crashing against the breakwaters of district courts, a recent ripple in the courts may signal a potential shift in rules around self-distribution, which could have deep effects on the industry in the years to come. First, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis […]
Online wine marketplaces are a way for consumers to purchase many of their favorite brands with a few clicks, and often enjoy discounted or included shipping to boot. But state regulators are starting to take note of their shipping practices. States like Ohio are arguing that these web shops are not only depriving the state […]
The District Court for Arizona recently ruled against a Florida retail shop in the latest in an ongoing series of lawsuits that seek to address the right of alcohol retailers to engage in interstate direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping. The Florida retailer in this case, which was joined by two Arizona wine collectors, argued against an Arizona […]
Congratulations, your winery has grown to a point where shipping under someone else’s license has become too great of a risk, and you’ve decided to search for a direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping compliance partner. There are choices in the marketplace, so how do you know which company to work with? As you conduct your due diligence […]
Effective January 1, 2024, wine and spirits products will be subject to the California Beverage Container Recycling Program (BCRP). This change follows the passage of SB 1013 in September last year and reflects efforts by the state to help manage and reduce waste from beverage containers by extending the BCRP to a class of products […]
By Jeff Carroll, WineDirect Wineries in the United States can ship to 97% of the U.S. population for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping, right? Not exactly. Most people think of states as either open to direct shipping or closed, but the reality is more nuanced. Although 47 states, representing 97% of the population, allow some form of […]
All categories saw growth January to June in 2023, compared to that same time in 2022 The first half of 2023 has come and gone, with new product registrations showing positive growth across categories. Spirits new product registrations increased 20% from January to June 2023, followed by wine (+10%) and beer/malt (+1%). Overall, Product Registration […]
The direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping channel has seen a continuation of movement tracked in the January release of our Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report, with dips once again occurring in overall volume and value. Note: The proprietary data featured in this mid-year report is compiled from an algorithm measuring total DtC shipments based on millions of […]
Small wineries breaking in to the direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine business sometimes choose to partner with third-party services that make big promises about handling compliance and licensing needs. Of course, there are numerous partners that can provide excellent help with managing these needs. But caution is in order when a third-party service makes sweeping claims, for […]
Some promising direct-to-consumer (DtC) happenings have occurred in both Alabama and Delaware in the last few weeks. The DtC application process in Alabama has been made easier, with less information required. And there’s a clear sign that Delaware might open up to allow DtC wine shipping. We share the details below. DtC license application developments […]
Among those who, for whatever reasons, oppose direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol, one argument that keeps coming up is that consumers should not be able to have alcohol shipped to their homes because of the risk of counterfeits. That is, there is apparently a belief that if an alcohol product is sold without the involvement […]
A Q&A with Arun Kurichety, COO & General Counsel, Petalfast In an effort to better understand potential cannabis concerns in the beverage alcohol industry, I sat down with Petalfast’s Arun Kurichety. Further expanding on Arun’s keynote address at the 2023 Sovos ShipCompliant Wine Summit, we discussed trends in the cannabis industry and what alcohol producers should know. […]
Over the last few years, one of the leading issues affecting the direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping market has been the ongoing effort by states to regulate third-party shipping services, specifically fulfillment houses. At various times, it has seemed as though a deluge of new rules and restrictions around using fulfillment houses was about to sweep […]
Preparing your business for direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping is no small feat. Between licensure, compliance concerns, tax accuracy and regulated reporting, overwhelm may seem inevitable. With the right partner by your side, you can focus on the delivery details that matter most to your customers. But there’s one delivery element that no one can control: […]