Direct-to-consumer wine sales by wineries has been one of the main public policy issues embraced by the association. It led to Family Winemakers intense involvement in direct shipping litigation that resulted in the landmark Granholm decision in 2005. From a limited market of 13 reciprocal states, consumer choice has now been expanded to 41 states and the District of Columbia, and counting. Family Winemakers has pursued legislation over the years to create numerous sales channels for small producers that has resulted in wine being sold at certified farmers’ markets, at fairs and festivals, and through order taking at thousands of non-profit wine tastings. And FWC has said no repeatedly to state excise take increases, new fees and laws that would overly hamper business operations.

Family Winemakers of California advocates the rights and interests of its members to freely produce, market and sell their products, and is dedicated to preserving the diversity of California wine. 

In fulfilling its mission, the association has sponsored legislation in the past 17 years to expand the ability of wineries, particularly small producers, to compete in the marketplace. Additionally, FWC has taken a leadership role in pushing and funding the litigation strategy to open up domestic markets for direct-to-consumer wine sales. That investment resulted in the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned discriminatory laws in Michigan and New York (Granholm v. Heald). FWC followed up with a four-year case against Massachusetts and its discriminatory production cap law, which resulted in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal sustaining our view.