Alex Koral

2 weeks ago | sovos.com | Alex Koral

This blog was last updated on June 11, 2025Effective July 1, 2025, all direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipments of wine into Maine must comply with the state’s beverage container redemption program, better known as a “bottle bill.” While wine bottles sold in Maine retail stores have long been subject to these provisions, the state is extending the program to include DtC shipments from out-of-state wineries.

1 month ago | sovos.com | Alex Koral

This blog was last updated on May 15, 2025The U.S. beverage alcohol industry has long operated under the three-tier system, a structure born out of Prohibition’s repeal in the 1930s. Designed to prevent monopolies and encourage market access, the system initially resembled a pyramid: a few dominant suppliers sold to many mid-sized distributors, who then sold to a wide base of retailers.

1 month ago | sovos.com | Alex Koral

This blog was last updated on May 6, 2025With the signature of Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, Arkansas is set to enact House Bill 1476—ushering in long-awaited reforms to its direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping laws. Until now, Arkansas only allowed DtC wine shipments when the consumer was physically present at the winery’s premises at the time of purchase, severely limiting the ability of Arkansas consumers to purchase and receive all wines sold by domestic wineries.

2 months ago | sovos.com | Alex Koral

This blog was last updated on March 31, 2025Believe it or not, there’s more to life than beer. There’s wine, spirits, cider, kombucha, hard seltzers—even non-alcoholic products. But just because a brewery has mastered beer does not mean it’s ready to begin making and selling other types of alcoholic beverages. When a brewery moves to expand its offerings and enter new markets, new requirements and restrictions apply.

Mar 3, 2025 | sovos.com | Alex Koral

This blog was last updated on March 3, 2025In a shockingly quick turn of events, the Mississippi governor has signed a bill that will enable the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of wine, making it the 48th state to grant its residents greater access to the national wine market. The bill, SB 2145, is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, which should mean wineries could begin getting licensed to start shipping later this year.