We love the Midwest winemaking community! This past summer Laffort® USA have been lucky enough to visit and share information about our innovations with talented winemakers from Wisconsin to Illinois to Indiana to Michigan. We've tasted fantastic expressions of everything from Seyval Blanc to Cabernet Franc.  And did we mention the ciders, fruit wines, and canned cocktails? The beverage scene in the Midwest is such a dream. Here's wishing all our winemaking friends in the Midwest a fantastic harvest! We’re proud to support your work to produce the best wines possible. Here’s to continued innovation, collaboration, and raising a glass together in the heart of the Midwest!  Special shout outs to Wollersheim Winery and Distillery, Butler Winery and Vineyards, and Lake Michigan College's Wine & Viticulture Program! Thank you all so much for hosting us!

Three states have added fulfillment house requirements for DTC shippers this year, bringing the total number of states with these requirements to sixteen. The requirements vary. Some states have established licenses or registrations for fulfillment houses; others require specific reports and/or records from the services; another group simply requires DTC shippers to inform them what fulfillment service they use. Here are the new requirements for Maine, Nevada and Wisconsin for DTC shippers: A new law in Maine requires fulfillment providers to register each address from which they ship with the ME Bureau of Alcohol Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO). The law also mandates quarterly reporting of wine shipments by direct shippers, fulfillment providers, and common carriers beginning January 1, 2025. The agency only recently began accepting registration applications when its new online licensing system BELLS went live on October 28. Going forward, wineries shipping to consumers in Ma

Stoli and Breakthru Beverage Expand Partnership to 12 Markets

August 13, 2024 Stoli Group and Breakthru Beverage Group today announce an expansion of their partnership into Wisconsin, marking 12 states where the

One of the larger industry trends reflected here at LibDib is the proliferation of craft tequila and mezcal brands. These brands have amazing stories behind them and we love supporting small importers and distilleries. So do our retail, bar and restaurant customers throughout our 15 states.   Here’s a sample of a few of the most amazing craft tequila and mezcal brands: Black Sheep Tequila: For spirits connoisseurs craving a taste for something new, yet extraordinarily steeped in tradition, Black Sheep Tequila provides a line of tequilas produced entirely from the labor-intensive, centuries-old, hands-on process. This tequila is sourced from only the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave and is traditionally handcrafted to create the perfect balance of flavors. Additive free, Black Sheep shares clean unique styles of tequila, including the famous Still Strength Aged 15 Year Extra Añejo, Barrel Strength Extra Añejo, Extra Añejo, Añejo, Reposa

Last December the Wisconsin legislature passed a major bill, SB 268, which will affect DTC shipments to the state in several ways. The most timely change is the addition of a wine-of-own-production requirement, effective May 1, 2024. Beginning in May, DTC shipments to Wisconsin will be limited to wine “manufactured or bottled by the permittee.”  SB 268 also enacted problematic new laws establishing licenses and reporting requirements for common carriers and fulfillment houses, scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2025. An amendment easing the requirements for carriers was signed into law March 22 after strong lobbying efforts by the major carriers and The Wine Institute. The fulfillment house requirements remain troublesome, but there’s still time for them to be adjusted before the end of the year.  Meanwhile, the wine-of-own-production requirement is in the law to stay, so wineries shipping to WI consumers need to adjust their offerings to comply beginni