Ex-Pats QB lobbies to ship wine direct

BOSTON (WWLP) - As the owner of a vineyard in Washington state, former New England Patriots Quarterback turned Beacon Hill lobbyist Drew Bledsoe is supporting legislation that will let him to mail his fine wines to his Massachusetts fans. Currently, such direct shipments are against the law.

“We’ve got a ton of fans that want to try the wine and want to get a hold of it, I want to sell it to them and so there’s really no reason that shouldn’t happen,” said Bledsoe.

Bledsoe’s wine is available from limited Massachusetts retailers, but the former football player loses profits and could make more selling directly. Package stores worry online wine purchases could get in the hands of underage kids, but Bledsoe says wine is often above the price range of teenagers.  

“I think the notion that young kids will not drink wine or will not drink something more expensive is a myth,” said Roger Donoghue, legal counsel for the Massachusetts Package Stores Association.  “It’s a product that should be consumed and enjoyed by people who are over 21-years and who consume it responsibly and we think that the way the law currently exists does that.”

Still, Bledsoe says the new bill requires shipments to be signed and would raise revenue for the state.  Some lawmakers believe a compromise can be made.

“I think there’s a middle ground somewhere …to purchase some of these unique wines that maybe they would like to enjoy …and at the same time that we’re not crippling our local package store, said Sen. James Welch (D-West Springfield).

Massachusetts is one of eleven states that limit direct wine shipments to customers.