New York

A Direct Shipper’s License is required to ship wine to New York consumers. To be eligible for a Direct Shipper’s License, the applicant out-of-state wine manufacturer must be located in a state that affords to New York State wine manufacturers substantially similar direct shipping privileges. A California winery holding a Direct Shipper’s License may ship up to 36 cases of wine to a New York consumer per year.

• To get a direct shipper’s license, wineries must first register with the Department of Taxation and Finance as a sales tax vendor and as a distributor of alcoholic beverages.
• In essence, wineries must obtain 3 types of permits (a sales tax permit, a direct shipper’s permit, and a “distributor” permit to allow excise tax payments).
• Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, licenses are only issued for a 3-year period that begins Jan 1 and ends Dec. 30 of the third year.
• As of October 20, 2011, semi-annual shipping reports are no longer required by the SLA.
• Shipping containers used to deliver wine to New York residents must be conspicuously labeled with the words: “Contains Wine – Signature of Person Age 21 or Older Required for Delivery – Not for Resale,” or with other language specifically approved by the Authority.