Wine sellers push to allow shipments across the border

Albany -- If a New York connoisseur wants a bottle of wine from a Central California or Oregon vineyard, he or she can have it shipped without any trouble. The same wine enthusiast can also order a bottle to be shipped from an in-state retailer.

A pair of state lawmakers recently introduced bills that would let oenophiles purchase wine from out-of-state retailers, something they can't currently do.

"Consumers of fine wine in New York state are slowly learning that it is currently illegal for them to receive shipments from out-of-state wine stores," said Tom Wark, spokesman for the National Association of Wine Retailers, in an outline of the bills sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Republican Sen. Terrence Murphy.

"They cannot fathom why these shipments would be illegal," Wark added.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Wine-sellers-push-to-allow-shipments-across-the-11072737.php