This presentation on wine and vineyard law was given to the National Business Institute (NBI) last fall. Below is an except from the presentation’s materials found here. The entire lecture from the day-long educational conference can be ordered from NBI here.
Under federal law, each type of winery has its own set of documents that must be submitted to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) for a permit to operate a winery. A bonded wine cellar is a place where they store, blend, and bottle wines. There is no fermentation process taking place here. They are under bond, as with a bonded winery.
In this type of winery, the following documents must be filed with the TTB:
1) Application for Basic Permit;
2) Application to Establish and Operate a Wine Premises;
3) Wine Bond (generally in the amount of $1,000 for smaller wineries);
4) Environmental/Water Quality information;
5) Signing Authority or Power of Attorney;
6) Personnel Questionnaires for Owners/Officers/Directors; and
7) Other supporting documentation.
Rincker Law, PLLC is equipped to help bonded wine cellars with compliance at the federal and state level.