Food stores licensed to sell wine in Tennessee under WIGS can only stock certain kinds of wine. As WIGS has rolled out, confusion over what can be sold at a grocery has been a major issue.
There are no final rules yet from the ABC – its early and we do not expect final rules yet – but here is our summary of what wine we believe a grocery store can sell in Tennessee:
- Wine. The law defines wine as being the product of fermented grapes. Think Chardonnay, Merlot, Champagne.
- Blackberry and other Fruit Wines. As long as the wine is made from fermented berries, groceries can sell it. Flavored fruit wines are probably not allowed.
- Wine Coolers. This is a product being discussed, but for now, wine coolers can be sold by grocery stores.
- Beer up to 5% by weight, which is roughly 6.4% by volume. This goes up to 8% by weight, roughly 10% by volume, starting January 1, 2017.
A grocery cannot sell:
- Fortified alcoholic beverages, like port alcoholic beverages and sherry.
- MD 20/20, Thunderbird, Night Train and Wild Irish Rose are all under the maximum strength of alcoholic beverages and can be sold at food stores
- Alcohol derived from alcoholic beverages that has had substantial changes to the alcoholic beverages due to the addition of flavorings and additives
- Sake
- Spirits like whiskey, vodka and run
- Liqueurs and cordials like Frangelico, Schnapps, Baileys and Grand Marnier
- Beer over 5% alcohol by weight or 6.4% alcohol by volume
Our buddy Willa reminds us of the Gordon Lightfoot tune Blackberry Wine:
There’s a new moon risin’ and the wind sings its old song
Pass it on over it’s a sin to be sober too long
Source: https://lastcall.bonelaw.com