76. Winery license. 1. Any person may apply to the liquor authority for a winery license as provided for in this article. Such application shall be in writing and verified and shall contain such information as the liquor authority shall require. Such application shall be accompanied by a check or draft for the amount required by this article for such license. If the liquor authority shall grant the application it shall issue a license in such form as shall be determined by its rules.
2. A winery license shall authorize the holder thereof:
(a) to operate a winery for the manufacture of wine at the premises specifically designated in the license;
(b) to receive and possess wine from other states consigned to a United States government bonded winery, warehouse or storeroom located within the state;
(c) to sell in bulk from the licensed premises the products manufactured under such license and wine received by such licensee from any other state to any winery licensee, any distiller licensee or to a permittee engaged in the manufacture of products which are unfit for beverage use and to sell or deliver such wine to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery;
(d) to sell from the licensed premises to a licensed wholesaler or retailer, or to a corporation operating railroad cars or aircraft for consumption on such carriers, wine manufactured or received by the licensee as above set forth in the original sealed containers of not more than fifteen gallons each and to sell or deliver such wine to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery. All wine sold by such licensee shall be securely sealed and have attached thereto a label setting forth such information as shall be required by this chapter;
(e) to sell from the licensed premises to licensed farm wineries, farm cideries, farm distilleries and farm breweries New York state labelled wine manufactured by the licensee in the original sealed containers of not more than fifteen gallons each; and
(f) to operate, or use the services of, a custom crush facility as defined in subdivision nine-a of section three of this chapter.
3. (a) Any person having applied for and received a license as a winery under this section may conduct wine tastings of New York state labelled wines in establishments licensed under sections sixty-three and seventy-nine of this chapter to sell wine for off-premises consumption. Such winery may charge a fee for each wine sample tasted. The state liquor authority shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding such tastings as provided for in this subdivision.
(a-1) Any person having applied for and received a license as a winery under this section may conduct wine tastings of New York state labelled wines and apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell wine produced by such winery by the bottle, during such tastings in establishments licensed under section sixty-four, section sixty-four-a, section eighty-one or section eighty-one-a of this chapter to sell wine for consumption on the premises. Such winery may charge a fee of no more than twenty-five cents for each wine sample tasted. The state liquor authority shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding such tastings as provided for in this subdivision.
(b) Tastings shall be conducted subject to the following limitations:
(i) wine tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative or solicitor of one or more wineries. Such agent, representative or solicitor shall be physically present at all times during the conduct of the tastings; and
(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a wine tasting as authorized herein and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations law, shall accrue to the winery licensee.
(c)(i) Any person having applied for and received a license as a winery under this section may conduct wine tastings of New York state labelled wines and sell such wine by the bottle, during such tasting, for off-premises consumption at outdoor or indoor gatherings, functions, occasions or events, within the hours fixed by or pursuant to subdivision fourteen of section one hundred five of this chapter, sponsored by a bona fide charitable organization. For the purposes of this paragraph, a bona fide charitable organization shall mean and include any bona fide religious or charitable organization or bona fide educational, fraternal or service organization or bona fide organization of veterans or volunteer firefighters, which by its charter, certificate of incorporation, constitution, or act of the legislature, shall have among its dominant purposes one or more of the lawful purposes as defined in subdivision five of section one hundred eighty-six of the general municipal law.
(ii) Upon application, the liquor authority shall issue an annual permit authorizing such winery to participate in outdoor or indoor gatherings, functions, occasions or events sponsored by a charitable organization. The winery must give the authority written or electronic notice of the date, time and specific location of each tasting at least fifteen days prior to the tasting. A winery that obtains a permit to conduct such wine tastings does not need to apply for or obtain a temporary beer or wine permit pursuant to section ninety-seven of this chapter or any other permit to conduct such a tasting or to sell wine by the bottle for off-premises consumption at such tastings.
(iii) Such winery may charge a fee for each wine sample tasted. Tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative or solicitor of such winery. The state liquor authority may promulgate rules and regulations regarding such tastings as provided for in this subdivision.
* 4. A licensed winery may at the licensed premises, conduct tastings of, and sell at retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises, any wine or wine product manufactured by the licensee or any New York state labeled wine or New York state labeled wine product. Provided, however, for tastings and sales for on-premises consumption, the licensee shall regularly keep food available for sale or service to its retail customers for consumption on the premises. A licensee providing the following shall be deemed in compliance with this provision: (i) sandwiches, soups or other such foods, whether fresh, processed, pre-cooked or frozen; and/or (ii) food items intended to complement the tasting of alcoholic beverages, which shall mean a diversified selection of food that is ordinarily consumed without the use of tableware and can be conveniently consumed while standing or walking, including but not limited to: cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, breads, mustards and crackers. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell wine at retail for consumption on or off the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such licensee.
* NB Effective until February 13, 2018
* 4. A licensed winery may at the licensed premises, conduct tastings of, and sell at retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises, any wine or wine product manufactured by the licensee or any New York state labeled wine or New York state labeled wine product or any New York state labeled cider. Provided, however, for tastings and sales for on-premises consumption, the licensee shall regularly keep food available for sale or service to its retail customers for consumption on the premises. A licensee providing the following shall be deemed in compliance with this provision: (i) sandwiches, soups or other such foods, whether fresh, processed, pre-cooked or frozen; and/or (ii) food items intended to complement the tasting of alcoholic beverages, which shall mean a diversified selection of food that is ordinarily consumed without the use of tableware and can be conveniently consumed while standing or walking, including but not limited to: cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, breads, mustards and crackers. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell wine at retail for consumption on or off the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such licensee.
* NB Effective February 13, 2018
4-a. A licensed winery may operate a restaurant, hotel, catering establishment, or other food and drinking establishment in or adjacent to the licensed premises and sell at such place, at retail for consumption on the premises, wine and wine products manufactured by the licensee and any New York state labeled wine or New York state labeled wine product. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell wine at retail for consumption on the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such licensee. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the licensed winery may apply to the authority for a license under article four of this chapter to sell other alcoholic beverages at retail for consumption on the premises at such establishment.
5. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, any one or more winery licensees, singly or jointly, may apply to the liquor authority for a license or licenses to sell wine at retail for consumption off the premises. For licensees applying singly, the duration of such license shall be coextensive with the duration of such licensee's winery license, and the fee therefor shall be five hundred dollars if such retail premises is located in cities having a population of one million or more; in cities having less than one million population and more than one hundred thousand, two hundred fifty dollars; and elsewhere, the sum of one hundred twenty-five dollars. Such license shall entitle the holder thereof to sell at retail for consumption off the premises any New York state labelled wine. Such license shall also entitle the holder thereof to conduct wine tastings. Such license shall also authorize the sale by the holder thereof of New York state labelled wine, in sealed containers for off-premises consumption, from the specially licensed premises of any person licensed pursuant to section eighty-one-a of this article to sell wine at retail for consumption on premises in which the principal business is the operation of a legitimate theater or such other lawful adult entertainment or recreational facility as the liquor authority may classify for eligibility pursuant to subdivision six of section sixty-four-a of this chapter. Not more than five such licenses shall be issued, either singly or jointly, to any licensed winery. All other provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell wine at retail for consumption off the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such application. The liquor authority is hereby authorized to adopt such rules as it may deem necessary to carry out the purpose of this subdivision, provided that all licenses issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as are applicable to the sale of wine at retail for consumption off the premises of the winery licensee.
6. Any winery licensed pursuant to this section is authorized to engage in what is commonly known as wine by wire services whereby a winery within the state may make deliveries on behalf of other wineries within the state.
7. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a licensed winery may apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell New York state labelled wine, by the bottle, at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers markets operated on a not-for-profit basis. As a condition of the permit, an agent, representative, or solicitor from the winery must be present at the time of sale.
8. Any winery may sell or deliver such wine produced by the winery to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery.
9. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a licensed winery may sell wine for consumption upon the premises known as the New York state fairgrounds during the annual New York state fair without obtaining any additional permission or payment of any additional fee, provided that such winery applies for, is granted and maintains a concessionaire's license from the division of the New York state fair in the department of agriculture and markets and such wine is sold and dispensed in amounts of ten ounces or less and further provided that consumption of such wine shall be limited to and shall occur upon such premises.
10. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, and upon payment to the liquor authority of an additional annual fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars, the liquor authority may in its discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it may prescribe, issue to a licensed winery upon application therefor a certificate authorizing such winery to sell wine at retail in sealed containers to a regularly organized church, synagogue or religious organization for sacramental purposes.
11. (a) A licensed winery may manufacture, bottle and sell fruit juice, fruit jellies and fruit preserves, tonics, salad dressings and unpotable wine sauces on and from licensed premises.
(b) Such license shall authorize the holder thereof to store and sell gift items in a tax-paid room upon the licensed premises. These gift items shall be limited to the following categories:
(i) Non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off premises, including but not limited to bottled water, juice and soda beverages.
(ii) Food items for the purpose of complementing wine tasting shall mean a diversified selection of food which is ordinarily consumed without the use of tableware and can conveniently be consumed while standing or walking. Such food items shall include but not be limited to: cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, breads and crackers.
(iii) Food items, which shall include locally produced farm products and any food or food product not specifically prepared for immediate consumption upon the premises. Such food items may be combined into a package containing wine or wine product.
(iv) Wine supplies and accessories, which shall include any item utilized for the storage, serving or consumption of wine or for decorative purposes. These supplies may be sold as single items or may be combined into a package containing wine or a wine product.
(v) Souvenir items, which shall include, but not be limited to artwork, crafts, clothing, agricultural products and any other articles which can be construed to propagate tourism within the region.
(vi) New York state labelled wine produced or manufactured by any other New York state winery or farm winery licensee. Such wine may be purchased outright by the licensee from a New York winery or farm winery licensee or obtained on a consignment basis pursuant to a written agreement between the selling and purchasing licensee.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, any winery licensee may charge:
(i) For tours of its premises; and
(ii) For any wine tastings.
(d) Wine grape growers or wine producer organizations or associations, incorporated within the state for the purpose of wine or wine grape promotion may hold wine tastings for purposes of education in the production and proper use of wine products under the same rules applying to winery licensees.
(e) The authority is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this subdivision.
(f) A licensed winery may engage in any other business on the licensed premises subject to such rules and regulations as the liquor authority may prescribe. In prescribing such rules and regulations, the liquor authority shall promote the expansion and profitability of wine production and of tourism in New York, thereby promoting the conservation, production and enhancement of New York state agricultural lands. Further, such rules and regulations shall determine which businesses will be compatible with the policy and purposes of this chapter and shall consider the effect of particular businesses on the community and area in the vicinity of the winery licensee.
12. A licensed winery shall be permitted to remain open for the purposes of selling its products, in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions two and four of this section, and/or conducting wine tasting at the winery, and/or conducting public tours of its winery and/or to sell New York state labelled wine, by the bottle, at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers markets operated on a not-for-profit basis in accordance with the provisions of this section on Sunday between the hours of ten o'clock in the morning and midnight. The authority is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this subdivision.
13. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a winery licensed pursuant to this section may engage in custom wine production allowing individuals to assist in the production of wine for sale for personal or family use, provided, however, that (a) the wine must be purchased by the individual assisting in the production of such wine; and (b) the owner, employee or agent of such winery shall be present at all times during such production.
14. Any person licensed under this section shall manufacture at least fifty gallons of wine per year.
Last modified: February 3, 2019