Amendments to Estate Pop-Up Tasting Permit Bill in CA Provide Additional Benefits to Wineries

Prior to its unanimous passage by the California legislature, Wine Institute secured additional amendments to our sponsored legislation, AB 720 (Rogers), that will benefit wineries. These amendments will provide regulatory relief for CRV label compliance. The amendments move back the date by which wine containers need to have CRV indicia from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. Additionally, the date by which wine containers that were already filled and bottled are permanently exempt from CRV labeling requirements has been pushed back from January 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025. Finally, amendments were added to allow more flexibility with the use of QR codes for CRV compliance, specifically allowing for a half-inch height code.

As a reminder, AB 720 creates an Estate Tasting Event Permit, allowing winegrowers to apply to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to host tasting events outside of their bonded premises — either on winery property or at non-adjacent vineyards under their control. In short, this new permit enables wineries to create “pop-up” tasting experiences at estate vineyard sites, bringing visitors closer to the vines, the soil and the story of California wine. Read the full press release.