Starting Your Own Wine Business
Regulatory Approval
The basic steps required for approval are:
- Local authority approval
- State approval (Tennessee Department of Ag ri cul ture)
- Alcohol Beverage Commission – ABC approval (state)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – BATF approval (federal)
- Individual label approval (federal)
- Register label with Tennessee Department of Revenue
Once you have made the decision that this is something you are committed to, it is time to understand the process required to receive a license to operate. The first step is to receive permission from your local authorities. The form received from the Alcoholic and Beverage Com mission (ABC) entitled “Winery Approval By Author i ties of Jurisdiction” must be completed and signed by a local official such as the county commissioner/executive, mayor, etc. The complete list of forms sup plied by the ABC is shown in Appendix A. These must be completed and submitted to the ABC for approval.
Regulations in Other States
If you are considering starting a winery in a state other than Tennessee, this guide can be used as a reference in starting your new winery. You should check with your local authority, state Department of Agriculture, Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) and your Department of Revenue to obtain the appropriate local and state forms and any other specific information. The federal approval process and forms will be the same.
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