Oregon House Bill (“HB”) 4121 expands the basis for allowing wineries to be sited on land zoned Exclusive Farm Use (“EFU”). The bill, in addition to vineyards, would allow wineries to qualify as permitted uses under ORS 215.452 if 15 or 40 acres of land was used to cultivate or produce agricultural products other than…

The Washington State Wine Commission hired Steve Warner as the new Executive Director. For more information on Mr. Warner’s background, and the unanimous support by the Washington wine industry, read the WSWC press release here, and the WAWGG press release here. 

In other news, the Washington wine industry, including both wineries and grape growers…

Please join us for our inaugural Washington Winery, Brewery & Distillery law seminar at the Columbia Winery in Woodinville, Washington on Thursday, March 15.

Panels to include these hot topics, plus much more:

  • Privatization/I-1183
  • Trademarks
  • Employment Laws
  • Tasting Room Operations
  • Taxes

For more information and registration visit: http://www.stoel.com/showevent.aspx?Show=9199…

Please join us for our inaugural Idaho Wine, Beer & Distillers law seminar at the Boise Centre in Boise, ID on Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Panels to include these hot topics, plus much more:

  • Start-ups (licensing, permitting and business formation)
  • Trademarks (protecting your investment)
  • Distribution and other key contracts
  • Land use issues
  • Employee matters

For…

Please join us for our 5th Annual Oregon Wine Law Seminar at the Allison Inn and Spa in Newberg, Oregon on Thursday, February 16.

Topics and panels include start-ups, trademark registration, employment, privatization of OLCC liquor sales, land use and a panel discussion on alternating premises (wine/beer/spirits). This seminar is complimentary to all industry members.

An update from our colleagues Allison Blackman and Nicole Hancock:

The State of Idaho is most infamously know for the potato but the recently reenergized Idaho Wine Commission, vintners, and wineries across the state hope to soon add Idaho Wines to the Gem State’s reputation.

Idaho wines regularly net honors in regional and national competitions, and the media are increasingly taking notice. "They want something new to write about, and that’s us," says Executive Director of the Idaho Wine Commission, Moya Shatz. The October issue of Sunset magazine sports a feature story headlined: "Discover new wine country: In Idaho’s low-key Snake River Valley, the wine is getting seriously good."

Idaho is steadily earning a reputation for growing and producing vinifera wine grape varieties such as syrah and viognier, as well as classic varieties including merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and riesling.Continue Reading A Check-In with the Idaho Wine Industry

Defenders of I-1183 received a holiday gift last week from the Cowlitz County Superior Court. On Thursday, December 22, 2011, the Court issued two important rulings in the declaratory judgment action challenging the constitutionality of I-1183.

First, the Court granted the motion to intervene brought a group of supports of I-1183 led by Costco and…

Despite Washington voters’ approval of I-1183 in the November 2011 election, the effort to privatize the wholesale distribution and retail sale of liquor in Washington faces another hurdle.  Last week, two lawsuits were filed in Washington courts challenging the validity of I-1183.   The plaintiffs in both cases contend that the newly enacted law violates the…

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The Stoel Rives Alcohol Beverage Blog provides wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries, distributors and importers with articles and information across a broad spectrum of state and federal alcohol beverage law. The authors work on alcohol beverage related projects from our bases in California, Oregon and Washington, throughout the Western United States and beyond.