Senate Bill 28 passes committee, heads to Senate: local winery distribution

KENTUCKY- Kentucky wineries want the ability to expand where they can sell their product, and this morning they took a small step forward. 

Derek Huff, the Association of Kentucky Wineries Vice President and owner of Traveler’s Cellar Winery, presented Senate Bill 28 to the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee- and it passed. 

The bill provides Kentucky small wineries the ability to sell a portion of their products directly to retailers. 

In the past, wineries could not distribute their own wine, it had to go through a tiered system. This is a big step for local wineries in south central Kentucky, such as Traveler’s Cellar Winery. 

“Because we don’t have reasonable access to distributors, we’re asking for self-distribution for those small farm wineries so we can start to represent Kentucky- made products on the shelves in Kentucky,” said Huff. 

The bill will now head to the Senate. If it passes the Senate, House, and is approved by the Governor, it could be enacted as early as mid-spring.