Q&A: Wine, Food, Beer, Or Spirits Questions
How to sell out-of-state wine in Florida?
Hi! I''m interested in distributing wine for a family friend who runs a winery in Colorado. I live in Florida and have the ability to sell her wine here but do not have a distributorship or license of any kind. We'd rather try to keep the operation small and sell in art galleries, small wine boutiques and specialty grocery stores. Is it possible for us to acquire the rights to distribution and carry through with this idea ourselves, or would it be necessary to involve an already established distributor in the state of Florida? Thanks so much for your help and advice! Alisa
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
First, for the answer to any question involving the sale of alcoholic beverages, you should consult an attorney versed in Florida laws and regulations before taking any action. Insofar as the business component of your question is concerned, you may find it more practical to find an existing Florida distributor for your friend's wine. The time and investment required to set up a company and obtain a wholesale license is unlikely to be compensated by this project alone, when you consider start-up and operating costs (office, inventory, warehouse, delivery, etc.). Whatever your decision, you won't find it easy to find outlets for Colorado wine in Florida or many other states unless your friend's wine is simply remarkable and a great value. It can be done, however, and I am thinking about the success of the Gruet sparkling wines from New Mexico (gruetwinery.com), about as implausible as can be - until you taste the excellent products and find out the value pricing!
About The Expert
Roger explains his approach to the Q&A -
"My goal is to provide as much reliable, practical information as I can in a brief answer. I try to choose my words carefully to be as accurate and precise as possible in the space allowed. I always do my best to be fair, treat the question with respect, and offer credible, informed commentary. By all means, ask a follow-up question if you feel a key issue has not been addressed. I also encourage you to look over past questions as you may find the answer to yours."
Bio:
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions.
