Plan for direct wine shipments stalls in N.J.

A New Jersey plan to allow direct shipment of wine to consumers has passed in the state Senate, but has stalled in the Assembly.

The Assembly previously passed a version of the bill, but it did not approve some amendments later made by the Senate.

“The biggest bone of contention remains with several members of the Assembly who oppose the direct shipping provision,” explained Tom Cosentino, a spokesman for UnCorkNJ, a group of wine consumers.

Because it’s unlikely lawmakers will take any action on the wine bill before they recess for the summer, the legality of off-site tasting rooms in limbo.

A previous federal court ruling said that lawmakers had to come to a compromise by the end of session, or the court could order the shutdown of all off-site winery outlets.