Wine Sampling

A wine specialty shop licensed under West Virginia Code §60-8 may also hold a wine sampling license authorizing the wine specialty shop to conduct special wine sampling events at a licensed wine specialty shop location during regular hours of business. The wine specialty shop may serve up to three complimentary samples of wine, consisting of no more than one ounce each, to any one consumer in one day. Persons serving the complimentary samples must be twenty-one years of age and an authorized representative of the licensed wine specialty shop, winery, farm winery or a representative of a distributor or registered supplier. Distributor and supplier representatives attending wine sampling events must be registered with the commissioner. No licensee, employee or representative may furnish, give or serve complimentary samples of wine to any person less than twenty-one years of age or to a person who is physically incapacitated due to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the use of drugs. The wine specialty shop shall notify and secure permission from the commissioner for all wine sampling events one month prior to the event. Wine sampling events may not exceed six hours per calendar day. Licensees must purchase all wines used during these events from a licensed farm winery or a licensed distributor.

The privileges, duties and responsibilities for the retail sale of wine is detailed in Legislative Rule CSR 175-4 and authorized by West Virginia Code §60-8.

License Fee: $150 per year for a wine sampling license

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