A new law (HB1083/SB1001) went into effect on July 1, 2024, alters the grape and fruit requirement for Class 4 Wineries, so that Maryland-grown grapes are not the sole focus. Moving forward, wineries may purchase bulk wine made entirely of Maryland-Grown Agricultural products, which can be blended with a winery’s own wine, if the aggregate purchase does not exceed 75% of the license holder’s annual wine and pomace brandy production. Previously wineries could only buy bulk wine made from Maryland grown grapes up to only 25% of their total annual production.
What This Means for Wineries
- A “Maryland-Grown agricultural product” is defined as any product produced or cultivated on a farm or vineyard in the state.
- Does not include cannabis or any product containing tetrahydrocannabinol
- A license holder shall own or have under contract at least 20 acres of Maryland-Grown agricultural products in cultivation, or, if less than 20 acres, at least 51% of ingredients used in the annual production of the license holder’s wine are Maryland-Grown agricultural products.
