New York Farm Winery Act of 1976

The New York Farm Winery Act of 1976 is a law that allows grape growers in New York to establish wineries and sell directly to the public, subject to a maximum of 50,000 US gallons (190,000 L) annually.^[1]

In the early 1970s, John Miller, of Benmarl Winery, and John Dyson, commissioner of agriculture, put together a plan to help revitalize the New York wine industry, which was foundering at the time. Governor Hugh Carey signed the plan into law in 1976.^[2] The law allowed small grower-producers to sell directly to consumers, as well as reducing certain fees and providing tax and marketing advantages. Originally, the law required farm wineries to sell only estate-grown wines, but it was amended in 1978 to allow the use of any New York-grown grapes in wine sold at a farm winery.

References

1. ^ "About Wine Country". Lake Erie Wine Country. http://www.lakeeriewinecountry.org/about-wine-country/. Retrieved 26 June 2011. 
2. ^ "Mark Miller: Farm Winery Act of 1976". WinesNY.com. http://www.winesny.com/NewYorkWines/Articles/Hudson-Valley-Wines-09/Hudson-Valley-Wines-Mark-Miller.aspx. Retrieved 26 June 2011.