SACRAMENTO – The State Senate voted 32-0 Monday to approve SB 1096, legislation by North Coast State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) to lift existing restrictions on communications between consumers and wineries and consumers.

Existing law grants the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) with the exclusive authority to administer the provisions of the ABC Act in accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature.

This involves licensing individuals and businesses associated with the manufacture, importation and sale of alcoholic beverages in this state and the collection of license fees or occupation taxes for this purpose.

Existing law, known as the "tied-house" law, separates the alcoholic beverage industry into three component parts, or tiers, of manufacturer (including breweries, wineries and distilleries), wholesaler and retailer (both on-sale and off-sale).

According to Wiggins, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry, “The complex restrictions of the ABC Act's tied-house laws make it difficult for wine and brandy manufacturers to utilize simple, modern ways of responding to consumer inquiries.”

She noted that current law references electronic Internet inquiries which could be narrowly construed to prohibit other types of electronic communications – such as texting.

Wiggins' bill, SB 1096, updates the law to allow wine customers to use modern technology, including texting and other electronic methods, to make inquires regarding where to purchase a winemaker’s wine.

Now that it has been approved by the Senate, SB 1096 next heads to the Assembly for consideration.

Wiggins represents the premium winegrowing regions of Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Mendocino Counties.