Key Highlights
- Three states—Arkansas, Mississippi, and Delaware—passed new DtC wine shipping laws.
- Maine extended its container redemption program to DtC shipments.
- California introduced a Granholm-compliant DtC shipping law for distilled spirits.
- 2025 was the 20-year anniversary of the Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court ruling.
As 2025 winds to a close, we at Sovos ShipCompliant look back at all that happened and changed for the dynamic industry we serve. Indeed, 2025 proved to be an eventful year for the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping market and the beverage alcohol industry writ large.
Overview: 2025 in Context
Beyond these more proximate developments, 2025 also saw the twentieth anniversary of both the Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court ruling, which ushered in the modern direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping market, along with the founding of Sovos ShipCompliant.
20 Years of DtC Wine Shipping Growth
Twenty years can be a long time for market, and it has been our absolute privilege to work alongside so many fantastic wineries and the other support services, like fulfillment houses, POS, and ecommerce platforms, and our other integrated partners, that have helped to grow the DtC wine shipping into a multibillion-dollar annual market.
There was nothing guaranteed about this success in 2005 and so we also honor the many incredible people who have built Sovos ShipCompliant along with all those who made the DtC shipping market into what it is, from organizations like Wine Institute and Free the Grapes!, to the consumers who were moved to lobby their representatives, and of course, the amazing winemakers and suppliers that strive daily to make the world a little better by providing consumers with fantastic wines to enjoy with family and friends.
Still, time marches on, bringing new and changed concerns to manage, and the beverage alcohol industry is not immune. So, while we can reflect on all we have accomplished over the last 20 years, this moment is also a time to review all that happened for DtC wine in 2025.
Key State Law Changes in 2025
The biggest news from 2025 was the enactment of three separate state laws enabling new DtC wine shipping permissions.
Over the year, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Delaware all passed laws designed to provide their residents with greater access to the national wine market. With these new laws in place, that leaves Utah as the only state without any form of DtC shipping rules on its books (and Rhode Island as the only state that requires an onsite sale prior to shipping).
Of course, just because DtC shipping laws are in place in these states doesn’t mean there aren’t restrictions and limitations—some of them severe—on wineries servicing consumers there.
Arkansas
Arkansas prohibits DtC shipping into any dry region of the state, which, with 53 dry or mixed counties, restricts much of the state.
Mississippi
Mississippi doesn’t permit DtC shipping of any wines that are listed for distribution through the state control system, effectively blocking wineries from engaging in concurrent DtC and wholesale sales in the state.
Delaware
Delaware’s new law includes the most onerous restrictions, including:
- A complete block on wineries selling DtC and at wholesale at the same time.
- Terribly small shipping volumes.
- A prohibitively expensive license.
Indeed, in its current form, Delaware’s law is so restrictive that it is not recommended for any winery to pursue shipping there when the law takes effect in 2026.
Maine
Maine extended its container redemption program to DtC shipped wines, effective on July 1. This new requirement has proved to be an extreme burden on wineries as many have found it nearly impossible to comply with the registration requirements.
While there are perfectly legitimate reasons for states to look at extending their bottle bill requirements to remote shippers, the states must make these programs accessible and readily manageable for everyone.
California Distilled Spirits
Wine was not the only product type affected by state law changes this year, as California (finally!) enacted a Granholm-compliant DtC shipping law for distilled spirits.
The state had been operating for several years under a “temporary” law that permitted California-based distilleries only to DtC ship, for which it was at great risk of litigation. As such, the new law, which makes DtC shipping available to all U.S. distilleries equivalent in size to California craft distilleries (150,000-gallon annual production cap), is extremely welcome. Less welcome, though, is the one-year term for the new law, which will need to be renewed by the state to extend past December 31, 2026.
Federal-Level Developments
2025 was also a rather complicated year at the federal level, due to:
- Tariffs: Imposed and removed repeatedly, creating uncertainty for importers and exporters.
- TTB Shutdown: Longest government shutdown on record halted TTB operations for weeks, creating a large backlog of license and COLA applications.
- Labeling Relief: The new administration reversed proposed health-warning mandates, which could have required alcohol labels to include cancer and other health information. Not having to implement such neo-Prohibitionist programs brings some measure of relief to the industry.
2025 Market Trends & Consumer Behavior
Looking at the overall beverage alcohol market, things were still challenging in 2025 with many analysts noting broad declines in consumption across all product types and consumer groups. Even more voguish products, like RTD cocktails and seltzers, have been performing less robustly than they had recently.
What This Means for Wineries Going Into 2026
For the DtC wine shipping market, 2025 has generally seen declines in shipping volume and value continuing at a similar rate as the last two years. While some of this might still be attributed to a return to normal from the heady years of the pandemic shutdown, it is undeniable that the DtC wine shipping is facing an extended downturn. Even if the decline in shipments parallels the broader struggles of the wine and alcohol markets, it is little comfort to wineries looking for a return to growth. There are some signs that the 2025 holiday shipping season may be surprisingly robust, which may signal things could level out in 2026, though no one is holding their breath.
Conclusion
Over the last 20 years, we at Sovos ShipCompliant have had the privilege of becoming a key member of the DtC wine shipping market and the beverage alcohol industry writ large. Through the years, we have seen a great deal of change, largely for the better, with greater access and availability to the tremendous number of delicious beverages produced and sold in this country. As we look back at all of the good we have seen and been part of, we will raise our glasses to many more years of supporting this exciting market.
FAQ
What were the major DtC wine shipping law changes in 2025?
Arkansas, Mississippi, and Delaware passed new laws, while Maine added container redemption requirements, and California updated distilled spirits shipping rules.
Which states allow direct wine shipping now?
All states except Utah permit some form of DtC wine shipping; Rhode Island requires onsite purchase before shipping.
How did federal tariffs affect wine importers and exporters in 2025?
Tariffs were imposed and removed multiple times, creating uncertainty and operational challenges.
Is the DtC wine market expected to grow in 2026?
Signs suggest stabilization of the DtC wine market, but growth will depend on consumer demand.