According to Lansing State Journal, Michigan’s Attorney General took legal action against multiple wineries for allegedly illegally shipping wine into the state without the required direct shipper licenses. Since 2023, the Attorney General’s office has filed at least 700 lawsuits against wineries in New York, Washington, Montana, Oregon, and California, including two new cases in the last week or so.
The Lawsuits & Allegations
The latest lawsuits target Long Island’s Pellegrini Vineyards and Washington’s Tsillan, which were both accused of shipping wine to Michigan customers despite receiving cease and desist letters. The Attorney General’s office is seeking court orders to stop the shipments and is pursuing fines of $25,000 per violation.
Michigan liquor regulators have been actively monitoring out-of-state shipments. In 2022, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission flagged six shipments from Tsillan Cellars and three from Pellegrini Vineyards to Michigan addresses that were allegedly illegal. The Attorney General’s office sent cease and desist letters, warning that failure to comply could result in legal action, including potential criminal charges.
What This Means for the Wine Industry
This lawsuit highlights Michigan’s strict stance on direct-to-consumer wine shipments, reinforcing the importance of compliance with state licensing laws. Wineries shipping across state lines should carefully review local regulations as well as their own compliance to avoid potentially costly legal battles and fines.
For more information on wine and alcohol laws or assistance in reviewing and updating labels to comply with these proposed regulations, please contact Lindsey Zahn.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post is for general information purposes only, is not intended to constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship results. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice.