How the law has affected wine making in Connecticut | State Liquor Commissions

How the law has affected wine making in Connecticut

Connecticut State Liquor Commission

Back in the 1800's the production of liquor in New England started with the making of not wine but hard cider. Because apple orchards were all over New England as well as the State of Connecticut, there were ample opportunities to make the alcoholic drink that was consumed by all every Fall and Winter. In addition to that, wild grape vines grew all over and settlers started to propagate the vines on arbors covering terraces and walk ways. Due to the abundance of the harvest many decided to produce their own wine. As a matter of fact, the beverage was consumed for varying reasons by everyone from preachers, to sick children, hunters and at funerals. The consumption at a funeral could be as many as eight gallons to one barrel. It's not surprising that laws started to be adopted affecting wine making in Connecticut. This is part of the history of wine making in the United States (For more history of wine making CLICK HERE)

When the 21st amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America was enacted it left the regulation of the production and consumption of alcohol to the states. Provisions in that amendment also say that the states have the right to regulate the production of alcohol for personal consumption. Due to that amendment, the Connecticut State Liquor Commission was born. The laws of the liquor commission regulate all matters regarding alcohol and enacted a tax that is collected every time Connecticut wine is commercially made, sold and purchased. Over the years the laws that have affected wine making in Connecticut have changed.

Based on a survey, in 1859-60, by the British consul in Washington measuring the first 50 years of wine making in the U.S. It was determined that the State of Connecticut produced twenty thousand of the over one million gallons of wine produced in the nation's vineyards. The reason for this high number was the fact that vineyards were first planted in the state in the 1830's that helped provide the mature vines that helped increase the wine making and production. In recent years with the decline of dairy farming, farms have turned to wine making in Connecticut with the approval and guidance of Connecticut's Department of Agriculture.  In 1978 the state passed a law that has affected wine making in Connecticut, the Connecticut Winery Act. And Litchfield’s Haight-Brown Vineyard became the first commercial winery in Connecticut. The law made it legal for wine to be produced and sold commercially.

Today the state permits individuals to produce 100 gallons or less of wine in a calendar year if there are two people who have attained the age of twenty-one residing in the household. And individuals can make 50 gallons or less in one calendar year if there is only one person, age of 21 or older, that reside in the home. Regulations of the Connecticut State Liquor Commission can be found here:

• Chapter 545 Liquor Control Act Section 30-1. Definitions
• Chapter 545 Liquor Control Act Secion 30-77. Disposing of Liquor without a Permit
• The laws affecting the shipping of wine made is regulated here: S178 -> Public Act No. 99-237  - Provision 436 states that
  "(1) any individual may import alcoholic beverages purchased by him within the territorial limits of the United States to an amount not to exceed five gallons in any sixty-day period for his own consumption".
• The laws affecting the shipping of wine in Complete Web Page on IP99(37) are available from the State of Connecticut.

For more information on the State Liquor Commission visit:
State Alcoholic Beverages Control Agency
Liquor Division
State Office Building
165 Capitol Ave
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Phone: 860.713.6200
Fax: 860.713.7235
For a more complete picture of how the laws of Connecticut have affected wine making in Connecticut you may want to purchase the following book:

“A History of Connecticut Wine: Vineyard in Your Backyard” (The History Press; $19.99) by University of Bridgeport professors-turned-husband-and-wife-writing-team, history writer Eric D. Lehman and award-winning poet Amy Nawrocki.

For more information on the state's wine stores and liquor stores you may also want to visit the Vineyards, Wine and Cheese website.

Visit the following link to find out about the Connecticut Wine Trail, Connecticut Wine Tasting, Connecticut Vineyards Winery, Connecticut Cheese Trail, Connecticut Wineries, Connecticut Wine & Liquor Stores: http://CTwineTrail.VineyardsWineAndCheese.com

The history of wine making in Connecticut is a long one. But in our opinion, once the laws changed that affected wine making in Connecticut in the 1970's and farms turned to wine making with the blessing and help of the Department of Agriculture, Connecticut wine is destined to become a state known for it's unique and award winning wines.