Insight Wine Sellers Can Serve Samples to Win Over Customers

Unlike the industrial wineries in other states, Idaho’s craft wineries produce smaller batches of high quality varietals that do not necessarily appeal to impulse buyers. One way for wine shops, bars, and other retailers to expose their customers to quality Idaho wines is to provide a free tasting right in the store.

Idaho law allows someone with a retail wine license to provide samples of wine to people who visit the premises. No special permit is required, but there are a number of special rules that apply to retailer wine tastings. These rules include that servings must be no larger than 1 ½ ounces, the tasting must occur within a designated area, and that, in some cases, the person serving the wine must be over twenty-one. Retailers can also team up with Idaho wine distributors or in-state or out-of-state wineries to put on wine tastings. Depending on how involved the winery or distributor is, additional laws govern who must pay for the samples and how often the sampling events occur.

For help with your wine sampling event or with growing your wine business, please contact our Wine, Brew, Spirits Group at 208.344.6000.