TABC Approves Online Wine Sales for Wine.com

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission this morning announced that Wine.com has been granted a Winery Permit and will be allowed to sell and ship wine to consumers in Texas. As part of the conditions of being granted the appropriate permits, Wine.com has opened a Houston location.

Wine.com meets all the requirements to hold a Winery Permit in Texas, including a federal Winemaker's and Blender's Basic Permit issued by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

TABC Administrator Alan Steen said, "Local access, convenience and competition in Texas are ever-growing, and I believe Wine.com's physical presence in Texas will help to ensure that consumer needs can be met through legal channels available in our state." He added, "This also means that the wine coming to Texans will travel through the state's regulatory system, guaranteeing that the wine sold by Wine.com will be purchased from a TABC-permitted entity and will have undergone label approval by the TTB as well as TABC."

"We're thrilled to be back in Texas, serving our 30,000 Texas customers from our new facility in Houston," said Rich Bergsund, Wine.com CEO. "The TABC has been extremely cooperative and business-friendly, granting us the necessary permits to operate."

Wine.com had previously been shipping wine to Texans outside of the Texas regulatory system. However, within the past few months Wine.com recently agreed to comply with state law and cease shipments. Since that time, the TABC states Wine.com made the business decision to open a location in Texas where they will operate within the regulatory system and pay the appropriate taxes to the state.

According to the TABC, Wine.com is one of over 200 Winery Permit holders in Texas that are authorized to sell and ship wine directly to consumers in the state.  Wine.com will also be allowed to ship product to adult Texans living in dry areas of the state.