Senate Bill 248

The Maryland Legislature finally agreed to allow Maryland wine consumers to purchase wine from out of state wineries and have it shipped directly to their home.  YAY!  Apparently a major boost in its favor was a report released in December 2010 from the Comptroller's Office to the General Assembly, which found no substance in many of the usual fears of economic disaster and increased underage drinking if wine was sent door to door.  A link to Franchot's report can be found here. (It is a mighty long PDF if you are on dial-up.)  While lengthy, it actually is very interesting, and certainly would seem to have been a major factor in the bill's passage.  Now we just have to see the Governor sign it.