Illinois allows direct shipment of wine

Illinois allows direct shipment of wine Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed a wine shipping bill that allows residents of his state who are 21 or older to purchase up to a dozen cases of wine a year directly from any Illinois winery or out-of-state winery that obtains the necessary shipper’s license.
   The new law, which becomes effective next June, will allow wineries producing less than 25,000 gallons of wine a year to sell directly to retailers as well.
   Illinois is the latest state to change laws regulating direct shipments from wineries in the wake of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled states cannot discriminate against out-of-state wineries when it comes to direct shipments.
   Illinois’ 68 wineries and 450 grape growers produce 500,000 gallons of wine per year.