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W i n e s & V i n e s A U G U s T 2 0 1 4 15 A U G U S T N E W S A U G U S T N E W S B oston, Mass.—With persistent political and legal pressure and a little celebrity stardust from a former NFL quarter- back, efforts to open Massachusetts to wine shipping paid off July 11, when Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a state budget that in- cludes a provision allowing direct shipments of wine to residents. The new law opens one of the United States' largest wine markets to direct-to-consumer shipments. Steve Gross, vice president of state relations at the San Francisco, Calif.-based Wine Institute, said Massachusetts and Penn- sylvania have been the two largest states to prohibit direct shipments. "We're delighted to check one of those off the list," Gross said. He said the new law means more than 92% of the U.S. population can now purchase wine and have it shipped directly to their home. "It's very satisfying because this state has been in limbo for a long time," Gross said. Only bonded wineries will be able to apply for a direct-shipping permit, which costs $300 and $150 to renew. Consumers are limited to a dozen 9-liter cases per year. The Massachusetts Alcohol Beverage Control Commission will be developing the permit application process in the next six months. Gross credited the lobbying efforts of former quarterback Drew Bledsoe as key to getting wine shipping through the state legislature in 2013. Bledsoe played with the New England Patriots from 1993 to 2001 and then with the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys before retir- ing in 2007. Speaking with Wines & Vines, Bledsoe said he was happy to help a cause he said would be beneficial to the wine industry, consumers and the state of Massachusetts. He said he spent a few days meeting with lawmakers and doing press interviews to build momentum for a direct-shipping law to pass. "I actually was a registered lobbyist—my only true foray into politics, and probably my last." In 2006, Massachusetts lawmakers overrode a veto by then-Gov. Mitt Romney to pass a bill that essentially prohibited DtC shipments to residents. While this allowed Massachusetts wineries to sell direct to customers, it placed onerous burdens on out-of-state wineries, mak- ing DtC sales nearly impossible. Gross said wholesalers and retail wine and liquor stores made a concerted effort to block any legislation that would open Massachusetts to more direct shipping. The Family Winemak- ers of California filed a lawsuit the same year arguing the law violated the "Commerce Clause" of the U.S. Constitution. In 2008, a Massachusetts judge ruled in favor of the Family Winemakers, and that de- cision was later upheld by a 2010 ruling of the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Following the court decision, a DtC bill died in the state's legislature in 2012, a year later a law made it through the state House and Senate and into the budget bill. Gross also credited Jeremy Benson and his team with Free the Grapes! for getting the issue publicity and helping to convince state lawmakers to move a bill forward. He also said Massachusetts residents eventually grew fed up with not having the DtC option. "Ulti- mately it was Massachusetts consumers that have been looking for this for a long time." — Andrew Adams TOP STORY Massachusetts Approves DtC Law, Opens State to Wine Shipping V éraison came a good week early for Jason McConnell, owner of Ukiah, Calif.- based Rivino Winery. The Mendocino County winemaker said he noticed Sangiovese berries start to change color July 10. And McConnell's experience reflects much of what is being seen across California this year, as a warm spring forced early bloom in many vineyards, pushing vine growth as far ahead as four weeks in some places. Moderat- ing coastal temperatures in late June slowed the rate of growth, however, and most grow- ers are reporting that they're now one to two weeks ahead of schedule. Larry Bettiga, the University of California Cooperative Extension viticulture farm advi- sor for Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, reported that véraison came as much as two weeks early for Pinot Noir in some parts of his district. "Our spring was quite a bit warmer than normal, but summer has been average or a little cooler," Bettiga told Wines & Vines. Rhonda Smith, UCCE viticulture farm ad- visor for Sonoma County, said that above- normal temperatures in March were responsible for the hurried but variable growing season in her area. She added that Sonoma County Pinot Noir started changing color the fourth week of June, Zinfandel the first week of July, and Char- donnay began véraison in some of the vineyards she monitors during the second week of July. From what she's seen thus far, Smith estimates the crop load will be "not as large as last year, but depending on the variety it is above average or at average." San Joaquin County UCCE farm advisor Paul Verdegaal said vineyards in his growing area, which includes Lodi, Calif., are averag- ing a week ahead of schedule, as warmer than average daytime highs are mediated by unsea- sonably cool nights. Verdegaal noticed véraison in Pinot Grigio and Primitivo during the first week of July, while some other Zinfandel clones began changing color the following week. Verdegaal estimates the first Zinfandel headed for bottles of white Zin will be picked during the first week of August. He added that an increas- ing amount of sparkling wine is being made from the area's fruit, and these grapes are ready for har- vest around the same time. "They're neck and neck with the white Zins, and Sauv Blanc is ready about that time," Verdegaal said. The Napa Valley Grape- growers reported that vines in that county are averaging five to 10 days ahead of schedule. Pinot Noir was the first variety to show color. And in spite of difficult fruit set for Merlot vines (many individual grape berries experienced shatter due to wet conditions during flower- ing), harvest for sparkling wines was expected to begin as early as late July. —Kate Lavin TOP STORY California Races Toward Harvest Véraison hit Rivino Winery July 10.