The gift of a special wine is a holiday tradition, but in Massachusetts, purchasing wine online is difficult at best. Currently, only wineries that are licensed by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission can sell and ship wine directly to residents, G.L. Ch. 138, c.19F. Most small vineyards in other states do not go to the trouble of getting this license. Since 2008, wine enthusiasts and vendors have been trying to change this law.
The most recent bill, HB1029, allowing for out-of-state wineries licensed by their own states to sell in Massachusetts, failed to make it to a vote in the 2012 legislative session. The Wellesley Wine Press provides this interesting summary of this ongoing issue.
