Wholesale retailers and legislators compromised Thursday on a bill that allows direct-to-retail wine sales.
House Bill 1387, authored by Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, would allow wineries to sell 5,000 gallons of wine per year to retailers.
Thursday’s amendment restricts those sales to the county the winery is located in, or a contiguous county.
“It’s a compromise that wholesalers are happy with, that wineries are happy with – that they will be able to still sell to wine retailers, or dealers, in their own county or contiguous counties,” said Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the House next week.
Ryanne Wise is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.