Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 3. CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE

Part 4. Sale of Table Wine

Winery

16-3-411. Winery. (1) A winery located in Montana and licensed pursuant to 16-4-107 may:

(a) import in bulk, bottle, produce, blend, store, transport, or export wine it produces;

(b) sell table wine it produces at wholesale to table wine distributors or liquor store agents;

(c) sell wine it produces at retail at the winery directly to the consumer for consumption on or off the premises;

(d) provide, without charge, wine it produces for consumption at the winery;

(e) purchase from the department or its licensees brandy or other distilled spirits for fortifying wine it produces;

(f) obtain no more than 12 special event permits under 16-4-301;

(g) perform those operations and cellar treatments that are permitted for bonded winery premises under applicable regulations of the United States department of the treasury;

(h) sell wine at the winery to a licensed retailer who presents the retailer's license or a photocopy of the license;

(i) obtain a direct shipment endorsement to ship table wine as provided in Title 16, chapter 4, part 11, directly to an individual in Montana who is at least 21 years of age; or

(j) offer wine in its original packaging, prepared servings, or growlers for curbside pickup between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m.

(2) (a) Except as provided in 16-4-401(9)(d), a winery licensed pursuant to 16-4-107 may sell and deliver wine produced by the winery directly to licensed retailers or liquor store agents if the winery:

(i) uses the winery's own equipment, trucks, and employees to deliver the wine and the wine delivered pursuant to this subsection (2)(a)(i) does not exceed 4,500 9-liter cases a year;

(ii) contracts with a licensed table wine distributor to ship and deliver the winery's wine to the retailer or liquor store agent; or

(iii) contracts with a common carrier to ship and deliver the winery's wine to the retailer or liquor store agent and:

(A) the wine shipped and delivered by common carrier is shipped directly from the producer's winery or bonded warehouse;

(B) individual shipments delivered by common carrier are limited to three cases a day for each licensed retailer or liquor store agent; and

(C) the shipments delivered by common carrier do not exceed 4,500 9-liter cases a year.

(b) If a winery uses a common carrier for delivery of the wine to licensed table wine distributors, retailers, and liquor store agents, the shipment must be:

(i) in boxes that are marked with the words: "Wine Shipment From Montana-Licensed Winery to Montana Licensee";

(ii) delivered to the premises of a licensed table wine distributor, licensed retailer, or liquor store agent; and

(iii) signed for by the wine distributor, retailer, or liquor store agent, or by its employee or agent.

(c) In addition to any records required to be maintained under 16-4-107, a winery that distributes wine within the state under this subsection (2) shall maintain records of all sales and shipments. The winery shall, pursuant to 16-1-411, electronically file a report, in the manner and form prescribed by the department, reporting the amount of wine or hard cider, or both, that it shipped in the state during the preceding period, including the names and addresses of consignees, retailers, or liquor store agents, and other information that the department may determine to be necessary to ensure that distribution of wine or hard cider, or both, within this state conforms to the requirements of this code.

(3) (a) A winery that is located in Montana and licensed to manufacture wine may be licensed by the department to own, lease, maintain, and operate anywhere in the state a storage depot for receiving, handling, and storing wine in addition to distributing and selling wine from the storage depot, subject to this code.

(b) To be licensed for a storage depot, a winery shall pay an annual license fee as provided in 16-4-501 for each storage depot operated by the winery, in addition to all other fees and taxes required to be paid by the winery, and must meet all applicable suitability requirements.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 566, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 530, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 163, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 501, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 184, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 29, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 194, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 55, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 591, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 601, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 622, L. 2023.