By: Estes S.B. No. 538
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the amount of wine certain wineries may sell directly to
  consumers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 16.01, Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 16.011, the holder of a
  winery permit may:
               (1)  manufacture, bottle, label, and package wine
  containing not more than 24 percent alcohol by volume;
               (2)  manufacture and import grape brandy for fortifying
  purposes only and to be used only on his licensed premises;
               (3)  sell wine in this state to or buy wine from permit
  holders authorized to purchase and sell wine, including holders of
  wholesaler's permits, winery permits, and wine bottler's permits;
               (4)  sell wine to ultimate consumers:
                     (A)  for consumption on the winery premises; or
                     (B)  in unbroken packages for off-premises
  consumption in an amount not to exceed 55,000 [35,000] gallons
  annually;
               (5)  sell the wine outside this state to qualified
  persons;
               (6)  blend wines; and
               (7)  dispense free wine for consumption on the winery
  premises.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.02, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.02.  PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.  The holder of an
  out-of-state winery direct shipper's permit may not:
               (1)  sell or ship wine to a minor;
               (2)  deliver wine to a consumer using a carrier that
  does not hold a carrier's permit under this code;
               (3)  deliver more than three gallons of wine within any
  30-day period to the same consumer in this state; or
               (4)  sell to ultimate consumers more than 55,000
  [35,000] gallons of wine annually.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.