AUGUSTA — Senator David Miramant, D-Camden, introduced a bill this week to allow wineries to ship their products in and out of Maine.

LD 1093, “An Act To Expand the Options for Shipping Wine Directly to Customers," was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.

“As it stands now, out-of-state wineries and wine clubs have greater freedom to deliver wine in Maine than our own local wineries,” said Miramant. “Changing this law will help us support and promote Maine businesses.”

LD 1093 would allow retail stores, both in and out of Maine, ship wine directly to customers.

The bill also increases the maximum number of 9-liter cases of wine that may be directly shipped by one entity to any one recipient address and removes the prohibitions against the direct shipment of containers of less than 750 milliliters of wine and of products commonly known as "wine coolers."

Sen. Miramant was joined by the National Association of Wine Retailers who testified in favor of the bill, among others.

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Scott Cuddy of Winterport, Victoria Doudera of Camden, Jeffrey Evangelos of Friendship, Valli Geiger of Rockland, Genevieve McDonald of Stonington, William Pluecker of Warren and Bruce White of Waterville. 

LD 1093 faces further votes in committee.