Story by David Beard
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Senate advanced a bill on Thursday to help wineries and farm wineries do business.
SB 390 eliminates a requirement that the wineries sell food in order to sell their wines. It also allows them to sell wine at fairs and festivals in the form of samples, glasses and whole bottles. It allows the wineries to sell the samples rather than just give them away.
Judiciary chair Charles Trump, R-Morgan, said the fairs and festivals element was designed to allow smoother operation of a wine festival in Martinsburg.
It passed 27-6 – all the opposing votes from Republicans – and goes to the House.