How Restaurants Benefit

Why Restaurateurs Should Support Direct to Consumer Wine Shipments

Restaurant wine sales increase under direct shipment
- Wine consumption goes up under direct shipment because consumers have greater access to more wine
  - New Hampshire, a beverage control state, saw a 3.5% increase for in-state wine sales in FY2007 on top of its direct ship program
  - 90% of additional Virginia wine consumption in FY2008 was sold through wholesalers to restaurants and retailers
- Restaurants sell more wine when consumers are used to drinking more of it
  - Increased wine sales translate into higher check averages, more profitable customers and more jobs in Maryland
Increased access to wine
- Many small out-of-state wineries do not want to sell in Maryland because we do not allow direct-to-consumer sales
- Under direct ship, restaurants will have greater selection available through wholesalers as more wineries become represented and see Maryland as a viable market
- Restaurants can currently order directly from wineries through the Non-Resident Winery Permit system, however only a limited number of wineries participate in this program because they do not see Maryland as a viable market

Wineries Able to Ship to MD

Here is a link to the Comptroller's website. Search for "DW-Direct Wine Shippers Permit" under permit type.