Please support the HF 520 and SF 1026 bills introduced during the current 89 Legislature (2015-2016).  The bill seeks changing the language of the current Farm Winery legislation, changing the term “Farm” to “Craft” winery and the area where wineries operate.

The current Farm Winery Legislation is exclusive and disproportionally benefits farmers over non-farmers wishing to enter into the wine production industry in the State of Minnesota. More specifically, the legislation is discriminatory against entrepreneurs seeking to enter the wine making industry in a small scale in an urban setting.    There is no provision in the farm winery legislation that addresses small/boutique - craft wineries – in urban settings, therefore any small urban winery has to compete with farm wineries in an uneven field.  The current farm winery legislation slows economic development and growth of the wine industry in Minnesota.

The amendment to the legislation pursues to repeal the Status Quo and allow the licensing of wineries to be expanded more broadly.  Thus introducing the concept of “Craft” wineries and removing the requirement of being placed/operating on a farm. 

The current Farm Winery legislation is mixing two key elements regarding wine production and the essence of winemaking.  It misinterprets the professions/trades of:   

a) Farming wine grapes (Farming), and

b) Winemaking (Enology).

 A winemaker doesn’t need to be a farmer, and a farmer doesn’t need to be a winemaker.  As a matter of fact, many entrepreneurs, who are winemakers, are not interested in owning and/or operating a farm.  As an example, a large portion of urban wineries in Oregon, Washington and New York produce their wines by outsourcing and/or contracting crops as standard way to operate.   Oregon and Washington are great examples of how urban craft wineries have brought immense attention – and revenue - to those state’s wine industries. 

The proposed amendments to the current legislation is a first step to opening the doors to new entrants.  It will boost the wine industry in Minnesota and more importantly, the proposed amendments are broad enough that don’t discriminate against size and or location of new wineries leveling the field for fair competition on product and innovation.

Please support the HF 520 and SF 1026 bills introduced during the current 89 Legislature (2015-2016).  The bill seeks changing the language of the current Farm Winery legislation, changing the term “Farm” to “Craft” winery and the area where wineries operate.