New law from Sen. Lawson, Rep. Kazarian will help local wineries sell on site

State House — A new law sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Valarie J. Lawson and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian will allow wineries to sell up to three five-ounce glasses and three 750-ml bottles per customer per day on site.

“Successful small businesses make for vibrant communities and enrich our beautiful state, and we should be doing everything we can as legislators to support them,” said Senator Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “This simple change in our law will mean a lot for these businesses and their communities. Customers should be able to come see the wine being made and share a glass with the winemakers.”

Breweries and distilleries in Rhode Island are allowed to sell a limited amount of their product on site. That’s true even though many of their ingredients come from around the world. Wineries, however, are not allowed to sell their product on site unless the fruit was grown in Rhode Island. This legislation (2024 S-2127, 2024 H-7720), which was signed into law Monday after passing the General Assembly June 5, would change that by allowing wineries the same privileges to sell onsite when not all of their ingredients are grown in Rhode Island.

Said Representative Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket), “As the craft beverage industry grew, we modified the law to keep up, allowing breweries and distilleries to have tasting rooms and sell their product onsite. It’s time bring the law up to speed for our small, local winemakers.”