Now you can havewine delivered to your door
The first bottle of chardonnay in Pennsylvania was shipped today to Josie Maran, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and businesswoman.
State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Chris Le Vine, owner of Grace Winery, boxed the wine celebrating the passage of Act 39 which allows Pennsylvania residents to have wine shipped to their homes. LeVine sent the bottles to Maran in Chester County.
Grace Winery was one of the first five businesses issued mailing permits by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. A total of 39 permits will be distributed. Over 200 businesses applied for applications, according toKillion.
“Pennsylvania has been in the stone ageswhen it comes to liquor. Only two states, us and Utah, are completely controlled by the state. We in the House, when I was in the House prior to the Senate, we passed a full privitization law. The bill did not pass but the same bill was amended in the Senate. The bill that is left is great for all of our Pennsylvania wineries and for those from other areas. We can have the wineries from out of state, ship wines once they get licenses,” said Killion.
Killion described how far Pennsylvania has come since the dayswhen hewent to the state liquor store.
“If you go back when I was a child accompanied by my parents to the state liquor store. There was a window with a book where you looked through a window and wrote down what you wanted and they would give it to you. We have come a long way especially with wines; still we have limited hours, limited locations. I would prefer full prioritization personally prefer but this is a step in the right direction,” said Killion.
The new law includes expands hours of operation at state liquor stores, eased restrictions in relation to statemandated holidays and Sunday sales. This bill allows online orders for wine, and lets stores create loyalty programs, distribute coupons, utilize flexible options and offer new sales and discounts. With the proper licenses, select restaurants, hotels and grocery stores can sell limited amounts of wine.
Killion is introducing a new bill to allow wine to be sold at beer distributors which he feelswill help keep their businesses thriving.
Grace Winery sits on the grounds of the Sweetwater Farm Bed and Breakfast. Chris and his wife, Vickie Le Vine, renovated the barn which was built in 1734. The barn was used as malting barn for distilled whiskey today it is used for fermenting wine and wine tasting. The name Grace Winery is a tribute to Chris Le Vine’s sister Gracie, who owned Sweetwater Farm. Chris and