Online retailers dominate direct wine shipping in Pennsylvania
Direct-to-consumer wine shipping was part of a package of alcoholic-beverage-control system changes adopted in the state last year. But the top five shippers, accounting for 30 percent of the business in the year ended June 30, are primarily retailers.
Pennsylvanians embraced their new ability to easily order wine directly from out of state, receiving $24.3 million worth at their homes or other addresses in the year ended June 30, according to new data from the state Liquor Control Board.
To obtain a license to ship directly to Pennsylvania consumers, a company had to show that it had a producer's license in its home state. But that did not prevent entities that appear primarily to be online retailers from dominating the field.
"We do plan to reinforce to all [direct wine shippers] that they are only authorized to ship into Pennsylvania wines they produce," PLCB spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said.