AUGUSTA, Maine — Cellardoor Winery isn’t the only Maine business turning grapes and other fruits into wine. Maine has 22 licensed wineries, at least 16 of which are actively producing, according to the latest data available, from 2008. Anyone who is producing and selling any wine at all is required to have a license, according to Lori Nolette, liquor tax auditor for the Maine Department of Public Safety’s Liquor Licensing Division.
In 2009, the Legislature opened new markets for Maine wineries by authorizing the shipment of wines to individual customers. The bill, titled An Act to Increase Consumer Choice for Wine, passed by large margins in both the House and Senate.
The bill required wineries in Maine to procure a license if they want to ship wine and also allowed wineries outside the state to ship to Maine customers, according to data on the Legislature’s Web site.
