Massachusetts Direct Shipping Bill Ready for Governor's Signature

The FY2015 Massachusetts State Budget has left the State Senate and is now ready for Governor Deval Patrick's signature. If approved it could finally mean winery direct shipments to Massachusetts consumers will be a legal reality.

Patrick previously said he would sign a bill enabling the direct shipment of wine if it ever made it to his desk. But he's likely going to be considering bigger issues than wine shipment when considering this issue. That's because wine shipment was shrewdly buried within the entire state budget.

The Governor now has 10 days to approve the budget:

The Governor has 10 days to review the budget and take action to either approve or veto the budget. The Governor may approve or veto the entire budget, veto or reduce specific line items, veto outside sections or submit changes as an amendment to the budget for further consideration by the Legislature.

Source: Massachusetts Budget Process

In reviewing the changes the budget would bring to the relevant sections of Massachusetts law it's clear the intent is to establish a framework to allow the direct shipment of wine. But it's not clear whether all of the regulatory hurdles will be sufficiently removed so as to allow shipments to occur. Specifically the sticking point of per-truck licensure of FedEx/UPS trucks.

From this Boston Globe piece out last week it appears I'm not alone:

Boston Globe: Online Wine Could Finally Come to Massachusetts Drinkers

FedEx said "no comment". UPS said it's too early to tell. And Jeff Carroll from Ship Compliant (who has forgotten more about wine shipping laws than I'll ever know) agrees it's unclear whether the proposed changes will collectively and fully enable direct shipments.

In an effort to keep things high level I shared:

“This is good news for Massachusetts wine enthusiasts, who will now be able to purchase wines they currently don’t have access to,” said Robert Dwyer of Wellesley, who blogs about wine. “This is also good news for Massachusetts in general since it will mean new revenues.”

Best case, winery direct shipments will start occurring next year. Retailer shipments (which would be even more beneficial to wine enthusiasts) are not included in this bill which is a shame. Because it means access to imported wines won't improve one bit with these changes.

So file this under "progressing well" but we're still not home free. Still - I'm very pleased with this progress because these recent developments are the most tangible positive progress we've seen on this front in a long time.

Subscribe to The Wellesley Wine Press to keep up with future updates.

PS I was in Tuscany on vacation last week and visited some benchmark producers. Tenuta Sette Ponti, Casanova di Neri, La Gerla, and Felsina. I tasted a bunch, learned a lot, and got some great pictures. Can't wait to tell you about them.

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Mission Impossible: $8 Wedding Pinot Noir

A WWP reader asks...

Hi there Robert,

I found you while browsing lists of inexpensive, yet great wines locally, and your top 8 list at Trader Joe's came up. I'm getting married here in California (northern) in August and we're looking to buy a couple of cases of good Pinot Noir at about $7-8 if that's even possible. Thought I'd give you a shout and see if that exists at any of the small to large stores like TJ's, Safeway, and the like. Hopefully not the stuff that will peel the paint! 

 
Thanks man.

Thanks for reaching out!

Like you sensed ("if that's even possible") it is tough to find good Pinot Noir south of $20. It's almost impossible to find even an enjoyable one for less than $10.

I do think California Pinot Noir is a nice pick for a summer wedding in California. It's versatile from a pairing perspective and lighter in weight than Cabernet Sauvignon. But if you find a good one, Pinot Noir can be effortlessly full of delicious flavor.

What you'll tend to find for around $10 at Trader Joe's is brands like Mark West, Castle Rock, and Trader Joe's private label wines. Occasionally these wines are enjoyable and some even show desirable Pinot Noir markings like aromas of fresh perfectly-ripened strawberries, supporting brambly notes, and orange oil aromatics. But they lack a certain personalized touch that I'd consider desirable for a wedding wine.

I was thinking back to the last really enjoyable, varietally correct California I had that was in the $10 neighborhood and one that immediately came to mind was the 2012 Ramsay North Coast California Pinot Noir. You can find it for less than $12 on the east coast.

Ramsay is a second label for Kent Rasmussen Winery. A second label typically means it's made by the same people that produce more expensive/prestigious wine but sold under a less expensive label. Kent Rasmussen Pinot Noir historically sold for around $35 whereas the Ramsay sells for $12. Second label wines aren't always as good as their more famous siblings (the grape sources vary, the oak regiment varies etc) but they can potentially be a source of good value.

Here are my notes on the 2012:

2012 Ramsay North Coast Pinot Noir

Inviting nose of ripe black cherries, strawberries, and supporting brambly notes. Smooth on the palate and very easy to drink. If there's a fault, it's a lack of depth and a somewhat short finish. But overall it's varietally correct and an amazingly strong effort in the $12 range. 13.5% alcohol. The perfect weeknight Pinot. Amazing value here.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

The best way to find a specific wine like this is through Wine-Searcher. It allows you to see which retailers have a specific wine for sale for shipment to specific states:

Here is a deep link to search for this wine for shipment to California

Ironically it looks like the best pricing for this wine is from retailers in New York and New Jersey. I'd be careful about shipping wine across the country since temperatures are creeping up and that can destroy wine in transit. I think they might have this at Total Wine locations in California so you may want to check there or at other local wine stores.

I think it's worth stretching from $7 to $12 per bottle to get a little bit nicer wine for your special day.
My best to you and your bride!

Hope this helps!

Question of the Day: What wine would you recommend for this situation?

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It's Official: Fells Market in Wellesley now sells Beer and Wine

Owners Peter and Paul Katsikaris in the newly
expanded beer & wine section at Fells Market

I just got back from Fells Market in Wellesley where I did something historic by Wellesley standards: I bought alcohol.

Believe it or not, Wellesley has always been a dry town. Although you can purchase alcohol at restaurants to accompany a meal, retail beer and wine sales have been outlawed until now. But that changed yesterday when Fells Market became the first retailer in town to sell wine.

See also: Who else is going for a wine retailer license in Wellesley?

And it's only fitting that they were the first given that they spearheaded the movement to allow beer and wine sales at grocery stores and specialty food stores in Wellesley. After being approved by the town they were quickly approved by the state and are now selling beer and wine during normal operating hours.

New signage and awnings recently added

Fells Market is located at the corner of Route 9 and Weston Road which happens to be walking distance from Wellesley Wine Press world headquarters.

See also: Swellesley Report with the scoop on other wine retailers coming to town

The family owned and operated market recently expanded into space formerly occupied by a hair salon. Along with this expansion the shopping center where Fells is located got a facelift with new signage and awnings. You might not notice the beer and wine when you first walk in but it's to the back-right of the store.

The first thing you'll notice is a wall of wine, which is about a 50/50 mix of whites and reds at the moment. The selection runs from affordable daily drinkers like Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc all the way up to the Cakebread (they had Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet when I visited).

Off to the left is a refrigerated unit with white and sparkling wines, ready for consumption.

At the other end of this newly expanded area is a beer refrigerator. I went for a Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale. $9.99 for a 4-pack. Oustanding! They're not yet 100% stocked, with staples like Bud and Coors  missing, but expect them in early next week: Peter says he's a Bud guy.

Expect the mix to follow along with the grocery assortment: Favorite brands to get you buy in a pinch and a few items at the high end that customers specifically ask for.

Pricing looked to be reasonable (Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier for $13, Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio for $22, the Cakebread was in the mid-$70s) with mixed/case discounts available. Chat Peter or Paul up and let them know what you're looking for. It's that kind of place.

Pro Tip: When trying to remember which is Peter and which is Paul, remember: Paul is small. He's not really small but he's not as tall as Peter. :)

As a wine enthusiast in Wellesley, Fells Market selling beer and wine is a welcomed change. Personally, I'll probably buy more beer than wine there since I always seem to have plenty of wine on hand and it's nice to pick up some cold beer when the mood strikes. But for many Wellesley residents looking to pick up a bottle of wine to go with dinner I think this is an especially nice development.

Be sure to check out some of their other specialties like Steak Tips (they make you look like a star on the grill), Bonnies Jam's (best preserves around, and cheaper than at Whole Foods!), and made to order sandwiches.

Check 'em out:
Fells Market
326 Weston Road
Wellesley, MA
(781) 235-1555

Other retailers in town will be joining Fells in selling beer and wine. Subscribe to The Wellesley Wine Press for updates to stay in the know.

Question of the Day: What wines would you like to see Fells carry? What else do you buy at Fells Market? Any tips on hidden gems?

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20% Off and Free Shipping from Drync

Mobile-focused wine discovery app Drync is back with 20% off and free shipping on 12 bottles, this time with code #1DAD.

Check out this previous post for some ideas on how to maximize the deal.
Offer expires June 15th, 2014.

You've got to do some sleuthing around to find the bottles they sell which are particularly good deals. And as you can see in my prior post they don't always fulfill. But for me it's worth taking a shot for things like Flowers Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir for $31.99 after 20% off (with free shipping and no tax in MA) when the best price is $51.99+ on Wine-Searcher.

Question of the Day: What are some of the best deals you've found on Drync?

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