UncorkNJ

UNCORKNJ CALLS ON NJ LEGISLATORS TO ORGANIZE A LEGISLATIVE WINE CAUCUS

2012-02-02T16:28:40-05:00

LEGISLATORS NEEDED TO SUPPORT NJ'S WINE CONSUMERS AND WINE INDUSTRY ON FUTURE ISSUES

Given New Jersey's prominence as a large wine consuming market, and a rapidly growing wine producing state, it is becoming clearer and clearer that the state's wine consumers and wine growers should have a legislative caucus advocating for and protecting the interests of the NJ wine industry. UnCorkNJ today asks NJ legislators to organize a wine caucus to support all future efforts to benefit NJ's wine consumers, wine growers, and NJ's economy.

While the signing of the landmark direct shipping/retail outlet legislation was a major turning point for NJ's wineries and consumers - which enables the state's wine industry to expand and continue to produce quality award winning wines, further enhancing New Jersey's image as a major wine growing state - a legislative wine caucus is needed now to look out for the future interests of wine consumers and wine growers during the new legislative session, which began last month.

NJ ranks as the seventh-largest wine producing state in the nation. Members of the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA), totaling 35 wineries, are located in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren counties. UnCorkNJ urges the legislators from these wine-growing counties to join together to advocate for their district's wineries and consumers. A vibrant and growing wine making industry in NJ provides jobs, preserves farmland, and serves as a basis for agri-tourism. To view a state map of the GSWGA wineries, please click here.

UnCorkNJ would like to ask that you please stay involved with our efforts to advocate for NJ's wine consumers during the new legislative session. Soon you will be receiving news updates and learning about new legislation and regulations which will further benefit the state's wine consumers and wineries. We thank you again for your past support, and encourage you to enlist other NJ wine consumers as advocates.

To find your NJ elected representatives, please click here.

Additionally, the Gloucester County Times published an editorial today about the recent passage of the direct shipping/retail outlet legislation. To read a copy of the editorial, please click here.

THE GROWTH OF SOUTH JERSEY'S WINERIES FEATURED IN NJ ONLINE PUBLICATION

2012-02-01T16:04:22-05:00

WINE TOURISM FAST BECOMING THE "HOTTEST ATTRACTION" IN SOUTH JERSEY

NJ Spotlight, a leading New Jersey online news site, published a major article today highlighting the increasing popularity of south Jersey's wineries. The article went on to say that wine tourism is fast becoming the "hottest attraction in South Jersey and beyond."

The article features Jake Buganski, executive director of the South Jersey Tourism Corporation, Scott Donnini, co-owner of Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery in Pilesgrove, NJ, Lou Caracciolo, owner of Amalthea Cellars in Atco, NJ, and other NJ wine industry stakeholders who state that New Jersey's grapes are among the world's best.

Scott Donnini pointed out that the recent direct shipping legislation is a game changer for NJ wineries, "One of the reasons magazines wouldn't write about us is that you couldn't get our wine anywhere. But now we feel like we have everything we need to compete, and it's up to us to show that we we're every bit as legitimate as the great wine regions of the world."

To read today's NJ Spotlight article, please click here.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR CHRISTIE, SENATE PRESIDENT SWEENEY AND ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO MADE NEW JERSEY THE 39TH STATE TO ALLOW FOR DIRECT SHIPPING

2012-01-19T19:00:58-05:00

New Jersey's wineries and consumers are able to celebrate a truly historic victory this week thanks to support from Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and the legislators who sponsored S-3172, and fought hard for its enactment last week. NJ will now become the latest state to allow wine to be shipped from wineries to consumers in NJ and 38 other states.

Yesterday, Governor Christie addressed the state Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City and praised the bipartisan effort among state legislators to pass S-3172, which he said was "long overdue." Senate President Sweeney, in addressing the same group yesterday, said the wine shipping bill was the bitterest fight he had been involved with in his legislative career. He went on to comment, "The other side spent over $1 million fighting this." The Press of Atlantic City reported today on both NJ leaders' remarks at the convention, to read the articles please click here, and click here.

UnCorkNJ wants to thank Governor Christie and Senate President Sweeney for supporting NJ's wine industry and consumers and rejecting the false and misleading claims made by the liquor lobby in opposition to S-3172. Enactment of this historic legislation will enable the state's wine industry to expand and continue to produce quality award winning wines, further enhancing New Jersey's national image as a major wine growing state. The direct shipping legislation also provides NJ wine consumers access to many more wines from NJ and around the nation, which are not available on the shelves of NJ wine retailers. And, the legislation will stimulate agri-tourism, preserve farmland, create jobs and bring new tax and permit fee revenue to the state.

This victory is a major turning point for NJ's wineries and consumers, which could never have been accomplished without the efforts of thousands of UnCorkNJ supporters, who let their elected representatives know daily of their commitment to passing the legislation. This was a truly grassroots campaign, and everyone who took the time to take action should receive the credit for enacting the legislation. UnCorkNJ is now asking all of its supporters to please take a moment and take action today and thank Governor Christie and the sponsors of S-3172, Senate President Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Assemblywoman Celeste Riley and Assemblyman Ron Dancer, for their leadership and unwavering support for this legislation. Please also thank Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (AswOliver@njleg.org), Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (AsmGreenwald@njleg.org) and Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (AsmBramnick@njleg.org) for their strong support of S-3172.

UnCorkNJ would like to ask that you please stay involved with our efforts to advocate for NJ's wine consumers. Soon you will be hearing about new legislation which will further benefit the state's wineries and consumers. We thank you again for your past support, and encourage you to enlist other NJ wine consumers as advocates.

LANDMARK VICTORY FOR NJ'S WINERIES AND CONSUMERS

2012-01-17T19:04:12-05:00

GOVERNOR CHRISTIE TODAY SIGNED, S-3172, DIRECT SHIPPING OF WINE/RETAIL OUTLET LEGISLATION

UNCORKNJ APPLAUDS AND THANKS THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SUPPORT

New Jersey's wineries and consumers can today celebrate a historic victory. This morning, Governor Chris Christie signed S-3172, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Assemblywoman Celeste Riley and Assemblyman Ron Dancer, which preserves NJ's retail wine outlets and permits direct shipping from small wineries to NJ residents. This legislation makes New Jersey the 39th state to allow for direct shipping, and enables the state's wine industry to continue to expand, produce award winning wines, and create jobs.

UnCorkNJ applauds Governor Christie for his support of this important legislation, which also ensures the future of the NJ wine industry, stimulates agri-tourism, preserves farmland, creates jobs and brings additional tax and fee revenue to the state. UnCorkNJ thanks the Legislature for approving this legislation, and especially thanks the above mentioned bill sponsors, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick for their leadership and unwavering support for this legislation, which will greatly benefit NJ's wine industry and consumers across the state.

Your commitment to this effort was critical to this momentous achievement; we could not have done it without your constant support. Today is a major turning point for NJ's wineries and consumers.

As provided in the legislation, S-3172 will take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment, which is Tuesday, May 1st.

We thank you again for your support, and encourage you to spread the word to other wine consumers!

News From The Senate Democrats

2012-01-17T19:02:21-05:00

SWEENEY BILL TO EXPAND AND AIDSTATE WINERIES SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON -- Legislation (2010: S3172) sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem) that will stimulate the growth of the state's winery business by allowing small in-state producers to directly ship wine to customers across the country has been signed into law.

Many of the state's 50 wineries are located in rural areas and do not produce enough wine per year to have relationships with wholesalers, making their retail outlets and tasting rooms, as well as a few wine festivals held throughout the year, the only way for consumers to purchase their products. New Jersey's ban on direct shipping has caused the state's wine industry to be uncompetitive with other wineries, and suffer a significant loss of potential business.

"This is a great day for the New Jersey wine industry and for our economy in general. New Jersey's wines are now considered among some the best in the nation, but rules and regulations had suffocated the industry for far too long. That will all now change. Most importantly, this will spur the kind of economic growth we sorely need in the state right now," said Sweeney.

The new law allows direct shipping of wine to residents from wineries that produce 250,000 gallons or less of per year. Additionally, the new law levels the playing field by allowing both in-state and out-of-state small wineries to operate outlets in New Jersey. That move would remedy a Federal appellate court decision last December which found the retail outlets and tasting rooms operated by New Jersey wineries to be unconstitutional, as state law precluded out-of-state wineries from operating such facilities.

New Jersey is currently ranked seventh in the nation for total wine production.

News From The Assembly Democrats

2012-01-17T18:59:59-05:00

BURZICHELLI, WISNIEWSKI & RILEY BILL TO PERMIT DIRECT WINE SHIPPING IN NEW JERSEY BECOMES LAW

(TRENTON) – Assembly Democratic legislation sponsored by John Burzichelli, John Wisniewski and Celeste Riley to permit direct shipping by New Jersey wineries has been signed into law.

The new law (2010:A4436), which was approved 51-18-4 by the Assembly last week, revises the statutes governing the sale and distribution of products by New Jersey wineries and creates a new out-of-state winery license governing New Jersey sales by wineries licensed elsewhere.

"This law balances the modern needs of our wine industry with the need of liquor stores and distributors and positions both for even more economic, job-creating success," said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem). "This is pro-consumer and pro-business, and it ensures our blossoming wine industry will be competitive and modern. It's a common sense approach."

"This law is good news for consumers and businesses alike," said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "It's a carefully crafted plan that ensures our wine industry can become a key economic engine for our state while protecting the local liquor stores and the many jobs they provide our state. It's a long overdue plan to modernize our laws to meet the reality of how consumers now shop."

"Consumers can purchase just about anything these days through shipping," said Riley (D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland). "Wine, as long as it's as carefully regulated as this law will do, should be no different. Our current laws are holding our wine industry back and ensuring they remain less competitive with wineries in other states, and that must change for the better."

HISTORIC VICTORY FOR NJ WINE GROWERS AND CONSUMERS!

2012-01-10T16:35:58-05:00

NJ ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVES DIRECT SHIPPING/RETAIL OUTLET LEGISLATION

UNCORKNJ THANKS ALL THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF S-3172

Thanks to the thousands of letters from NJ consumers in support of S-3172, legislation which will preserve NJ’s retail wine outlets and permit direct shipping from small wineries to NJ residents, the NJ Assembly passed the legislation last night with bi-partisan support, 51 to 18. The bill now heads to Governor Chris Christie’s desk for his consideration.

UnCorkNJ especially thanks Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, Assembly Minority Conference Leader Jon Bramnick and the bill’s Assembly sponsors, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Assemblywoman Celeste Riley and Assemblyman Ron Dancer, for their leadership and unwavering support for this important legislation, which will greatly benefit NJ’s wine industry and consumers across the state. UnCorkNJ also thanks all 51 Assembly members who also voted in favor of the bill.

Your commitment to this effort was critical to the successful vote yesterday; we could not have done it without your constant support. Consumers from every legislative district sent a strong message to Assembly members about the benefits of the bill, specifically, that the legislation will ensure the future of the NJ wine industry, stimulate agri-tourism, preserve farmland, create jobs and bring additional tax and fee revenue to the state.

To read a copy of the legislation, please click here.

The bill is now on Governor Christie's desk for his consideration. Please take action today and respectfully request Governor Christie to sign S-3172, and make New Jersey the 39th state to allow for direct shipping, and enable the state's wine industry to continue to expand, produce award winning wines, and create jobs.

Today, the TRENTON TIMES published an editorial urging Governor Christie to sign S-3172, saying, "Shopping online allows consumers to find special wines that aren't available in the local shop. While it poses no threat to liquor stores, it will enhance an industry that's keeping many farmers in business." The editorial also pointed out, "All of this could add up to a very good year with continued growth of N.J. agriculture; the wineries' increasing contribution to the economy; and a wider selection for Garden State wine aficionados." To read a copy of the TRENTON TIMES editorial, please click here.

We thank you again for your past support, and encourage you to take action one more time and spread the word to other wine consumers.

S-3172/A-4436 SCHEDULED FOR ASSEMBLY VOTE ON MONDAY!

2012-01-06T19:03:03-05:00

URGE YOUR ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE YES AND REJECT THE LIQUOR LOBBY AND SIDE WITH NJ'S WINERIES AND CONSUMERS

UnCorkNJ thanks Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver for posting S-3172/A-4436 for a full Assembly vote on Monday, January 9. Because of all of your efforts, we are close to victory. S-3172/A-4436, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, Assemblywoman Celeste Riley and Assemblyman Ron Dancer, preserves the retail wine outlets operated by NJ's wineries and changes NJ's law to provide direct shipping of wine from small wineries to NJ residents.

UnCorkNJ applauds Assemblyman Ron Dancer for his support of our effort by signing on as a co-sponsor of this important consumer legislation. The state's liquor lobby continues its campaign of false and misleading claims about the impact of direct shipping, and is mounting a last ditch attempt to defeat the bill. Similar efforts by the liquor lobby in 38 states were totally rejected by state legislatures, who sided with their wine industry and consumers to allow for direct shipping.

S-3172/A-4436 provides the Legislature with an opportunity to enhance New Jersey's image around the nation, and further establishes the Garden State as a major producer of quality wines. This important legislation will ensure the future of the NJ wine industry, stimulate agri-tourism, preserve farmland, create jobs and bring additional tax and fee revenue to the state.

It is now more important than ever that you reach out to your Assembly representatives and urge them to vote yes on S-3172/A-4436. UnCorkNJ is calling on all of its thousands of supporters to take action again today. We only have two days to communicate with Assembly members about the need for this legislation. The public's voice must be heard louder than ever before!

We thank you for your past support and encourage you to take action now, and to spread the word to other wine consumers and ask them to join the effort.

MAJOR VICTORY FOR NJ CONSUMERS AND WINE INDUSTRY

2012-01-05T18:07:08-05:00

DIRECT SHIPPING/RETAIL WINE OUTLET LEGISLATION PASSES ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE TODAY

ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY

TAKE ACTION NOW AND URGE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER OLIVER TO POST A-4436/S-3172 FOR AN ASSEMBLY VOTE ON MONDAY!

Thanks to thousands of letters from NJ wine consumers in support of A-4436/S-3172, legislation which will preserve NJ's retail wine outlets and permit direct shipping from small wineries to NJ residents, the Assembly Budget Committee voted this afternoon in favor and sent the bill to the Assembly for a full vote.

UnCorkNJ thanks the bill sponsors, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, for their leadership and unwavering support for the legislation. We would also like to thank the members of the Assembly Budget Committee who rejected the liquor lobby's false claims, and sided with NJ's wine consumers and wine growers and voted in favor of the bill.

"The limited access people have to New Jersey wines has suffocated an industry that has enormous potential for growth," said Senate President Sweeney. "New Jersey's wine industry can grow by leaps and bounds if we act to change our current flawed policies. This in turn will be spur the kind of economic growth we sorely need in the state right now."

"This bill balances the modern needs of our wine industry with the need of liquor stores and distributors and positions both for even more economic, job-creating success," said Assemblyman Burzichelli. "This bill is pro-consumer and pro-business, and it ensures our blossoming wine industry will be competitive and modern. It's a common sense approach."

"This bill is good news for consumers and businesses alike," said Deputy Speaker Wisniewski. "It's a carefully crafted plan that ensures our wine industry can become a key economic engine for our state while protecting the local liquor stores and the many jobs they provide our state. It's a long overdue plan to modernize our laws to meet the reality of how consumers now shop."

"Consumers can purchase just about anything these days through shipping," said Assemblywoman Riley. "Wine, as long as it's as carefully regulated as this bill would do, should be no different. Our current laws are holding our wine industry back and ensuring they remain less competitive with wineries in other states, and that must change for the better."

Your commitment to this effort was critical to the successful vote today. Consumers from every legislative district sent a strong message to members of the Assembly Budget Committee about the many benefits of this legislation to NJ's economy.

The focus now turns to the entire Assembly. UnCorkNJ urges Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver to post A-4436/S-3172 for a vote on Monday, January 9, the last day of the legislative session. UnCorkNJ is asking all of its thousands of supports to please continue the fight to make NJ the 39th state to allow for direct shipping. The state's liquor lobby is working every day to never allow NJ wine consumers with the same ability as millions of Americans in 38 states. We only have a few days to communicate with Assembly members about the need for this legislation.

Please take action today and ask Assembly Speaker Oliver to post A-4436/S-3172 for a vote on Monday!

NJ's wine consumers and wineries received another major boost this week as the COURIER-POST and the EXPRESS-TIMES joined six other newspapers to endorse direct shipping legislation. Additionally, highly noted national newspaper, the WALL STREET JOURNAL, published a major article on the NJ effort to permit direct shipping and preserve NJ's retail wine outlets. To read the COURIER-POST editorial, please click here; to read the EXPRESS-TIMES editorial, please click here; and to read the WALL STREET JOURNAL article, please click here.

We thank you for your past support and encourage you to once again take action now and spread the word to other wine consumers!

NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER ENDORSES DIRECT SHIPPING, SAYS IT IS BEST FOR NJ WINE CONSUMERS AND WINE GROWERS

2012-01-02T13:59:37-05:00

A-4436/S-3172 TO BE HEARD THURSDAY BY THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE!

New Jersey's wine consumers and wineries received another major boost this weekend as the STAR-LEDGER, the state's largest newspaper, joined five other newspapers in endorsing direct shipping legislation. Additionally, the editorial went on to dismiss the liquor lobby's misleading allegations about job losses and an increase in underage access to wine as a result of direct shipping. The editorial said, "Both arguments are fear-mongering nonsense." Further, the editorial pointed out, "New Jersey wineries - the state's most promising farmers - need this law because it's good for business. It's already law in 38 states. Direct-shipping expands consumer choice. Moreover, local wineries draw tourism, and the state stands to make millions on license fees and sales taxes."

Momentum continues to build for direct shipping! A-4436/S-3172, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski, and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, is scheduled to be considered by the Assembly Budget Committee on Thursday, January 5th! This legislation provides the Legislature with an opportunity to enhance New Jersey's image around the country, and further establish the state as a major wine producer. Additionally, this important legislation will ensure the future of the NJ wine industry, stimulate agri-tourism, preserve farmland, create jobs and bring additional tax and fee revenue to the state. Now is the time to reach out to members of the Assembly Budget Committee and urge them to support this legislation and finally give NJ residents the same ability as millions of other Americans in 38 states to have wine shipped from wineries to their residences.

UnCorkNJ is calling on its thousands of supporters to take action today and urge members of the Assembly Budget Committee to reject the liquor lobby and side with NJ wine consumers and wine growers and pass A-4436/S-3172 on Thursday!

We thank you for your past support and encourage you to spread the word to other wine consumers. To read the STAR-LEDGER editorial, please click here.

Members of the Assembly Budget Committee:

Chairman Lou Greenwald

AsmGreenwald@njleg.org

Vice-Chairman Gary Schear

AsmSchear@njleg.org

Assemblyman Anthony Bucco

AsmBucco@njleg.org

Assemblyman John Burzichelli

AsmBurzichelli@njleg.org

Assemblyman Gary Chiusano

AsmChiusano@njleg.org

Assemblyman Albert Coutinho