NZ cellar doors with off-license now permitted to charge for wine tastings

NZ cellar doors with off-license now permitted to charge for wine tastings
Batch Winery, Waiheke. Image courtesy New Zealand Winegrowers Inc

Winery cellar doors with an off-license in New Zealand will now be allowed to charge for providing samples of wine, after the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Winery Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill was passed following its third reading.

Previously, wine samples were only able to be given away for free, making it difficult for wineries to cover the costs of providing these experiences.

“These changes will make a difference,” said Philip Gregan, chief executive officer of New Zealand Winegrowers. “The Bill brings legislation on winery cellar doors into the 21st Century. It recognises the contribution made by winery cellar doors to the tourism offering in New Zealand’s wine regions and enables wineries to charge for providing their tourism experience.”

Gregan also noted that the passing of the Bill came ahead of the busy summer season.

“During the submission process the Select Committee heard directly from our members that this change will help them to cover their costs and encourage other members to open new winery cellar doors that would otherwise have not been an economic proposition,” said Gregan. “We expect this change will create new jobs and new tourism experiences to encourage visitor growth”.

Winery cellar doors will continue to observe host responsibility practices, including a maximum sample size of 35ml, meeting the new requirements to have snack food available for purchase and for water to be freely available.

“The robust consideration by the Select Committee and Parliament means these changes will have a positive and lasting impact on New Zealand’s regional wine tourism experiences. We welcome all visitors to one of the 250 plus winery cellar doors and wine tourism experiences throughout New Zealand,” said Gregan.

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