Winegrowers will soon be eligible to apply for a new permit that allows wine consumption at qualifying special events approved by ABC

Pursuant to Assembly Bill 720 (Rogers, Chapter 562, Statutes of 2025), ABC will soon offer an estate tasting event permit (known as a “Type 93 permit”) that may be issued to a licensed winegrower. The permit will grant the winegrower the ability to exercise its tasting room privileges – for wine manufactured by or for the winegrower – on either property adjacent to their licensed premises that is owned by or under control of the licensee, or a nonadjacent vineyard that is owned by or under control of the licensee. The purpose of the permit is to enable winegrowers to host special events in areas adjacent to their winery that are currently unlicensed or in their vineyard that is not licensed for alcohol sales and consumption.

In order to exercise the privileges of the permit, the winegrower must apply to ABC for an event authorization, and a permit holder is capped at receiving no more than 36 event authorizations per calendar year. Upon receiving the event authorization from ABC, the permit holder will be able to exercise its tasting room privileges in the approved area. Tasting room privileges that may be exercised include both on-sale and off-sale of the winegrower’s wine.

Please note that local governments have broad land use authority, and each municipality has the authority to establish its own approval requirements for special events. It is the responsibility of all winegrowers to obtain any approvals necessary from their local jurisdiction prior to holding an event, and an event authorization approved by ABC does not supersede or relieve the winegrower from receiving any approvals necessary from their local jurisdiction.

ABC will begin accepting applications for the Type 93 permit and related event authorizations beginning January 1, 2026.