Drew Dixon
A second Senate panel is unanimously backing a measure that would eliminate a state law requiring “reusable” kegs for wine producers.
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee approved the bill (SB 578) stating that wine produced in Florida “may be sold in recyclable containers of a specified volume.”
Sen. Tom Leek, a St. Augustine Republican, sponsored the legislation. The key element would change Florida law enacted about a decade ago to allow Florida wine producers to use “recyclable” kegs and other containers, instead of requiring “reusable” containers.
Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican, asked Leek during committee discussion about the bill’s intent.
“Is this so we can start selling gallons and gallons of wine in boxes? Is that what the intent is?” Gruters asked.
Leek said that’s not the purpose of the proposal.
“The intent is not necessarily to sell it in boxes. If you prefer your wine in boxes, you’re welcome to buy it in boxes. This is to allow recyclable inserts and get away from a single-source of containers,” Leek said.
The Senate bill now has one final stop in front of the Senate Rules Committee.
The measure mirrors a similar bill in the House that is already moving to the floor for a full vote. Rep. Vanessa Oliver, a Port Charlotte Republican, filed that proposal (HB 6015).
Oliver said it may seem like a small adjustment. But for winemakers in Florida, it’s an essential change and can make a difference in taste of the final product.
“This was actually brought to me by one of my constituents who is a blueberry farmer in DeSoto County,” Oliver said in a Florida Politics interview in February. “He is part owner of a winery and they make blueberry wine out of his blueberries and sell it throughout the Southeastern United States.”
The problem for the blueberry farmer is they cannot distribute the wine in large quantities in Florida because it can only be sold in reusable kegs, which are usually made of metal. Oliver said that negatively impacts the taste of the wine.
Leek said the Senate measure would allow recyclable “inserts” to be put into wine containers. The inserts are more or less a liner that can be put into kegs or other containers and then be removed and replaced with another insert when the container is emptied.
While Florida will never be known as a wine region like other states such as California or Washington, there are still about three dozen wine producers in the Sunshine State, according to the American Winery Guide.
