New Law Allows Wine Tastings At California Farmer's Markets

Under a new state law, wine sellers are now able to offer tastings at California farmer’s markets. The law is getting rave reviews from some smaller vintners.

Frank Egger owns Cazadero Winery in Sonoma County. He says for smaller operations like his, farmer’s markets offer a whole new marketing opportunity.

“Everything we produce is gold medal winning wines,” says Egger. “But if we can’t get the product out for people to taste it, they’re never going to find out about us.”

Some critics of the law had raised concerns about public drinking in a family friendly atmosphere. But Janet Ellisor from Sacramento says in her experience tastings are pretty well controlled.

“I’ve been wine tasting before and the samples you get are so small that I don’t think there would be much negative consequence to that,” says Ellisor.

The law limits vendors to pouring only three ounces of wine per customer. Wine sellers will have to get a state issued license to hold the tastings and licenses from each local jurisdiction where they plan to set up.