SACRAMENTO – Senate Joint Resolution 34 by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry, and Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), committee chair, was unanimously approved by the state Senate last week.

The resolution will next be heard in the Assembly.

SJR 34 urges Congress to defeat House Resolution 5034.

HR 5034 would restrict legal challenges to state laws governing the interstate shipment of wine, severely limit consumer choice of California wine throughout the nation and restrict market access for California wineries that cannot secure wholesale distribution.

Wine has become synonymous with California’s history, culture and identity.

The California wine industry produces 90 percent of our nation's wine, employs more than 330,000 Californians and generates over $61.5 billion in economic value for our state through sales as well as travel and tourism.

“California's wine industry is a critical part of California’s economy,” said Padilla. “SJR 34 sends a clear message to Congress that California wants to protect and preserve the ability of wineries to ship wine directly to consumers without discrimination between in-state and out-of-state wine producers.”

Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia allow direct shipping of wine from winegrowers to

consumers.

To reach consumers in other states, many small California wineries use direct marketing and shipping of their wines throughout the country.

In California and across the nation these sales are regulated by laws that comply with Granholm v. Heald.

This 2005 landmark US Supreme Court case held that states have authority to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages and wine, but may not discriminate against out-of-state sellers.