California winegrowers holding a Type 02 license have been able to sell their wine at farmers’ markets under a special permit (Certified Farmers’ Market Sales Permit) for some time. For a relatively nominal fee, now $50, a licensed winegrower may sell wine at a certified farmers’ market so long as the wine is (a) “produced entirely from grapes or other agricultural products grown by the winegrower” and (b) bottled by the winegrower. The permit is good for an entire year, but the winegrower may only sell wine one day a week at any given farmers’ market. A separate license is required for each certified farmers’ market at which the winegrower’s product is to be sold, but there is no limit on the number of licenses that may be held.

Annual sales for wine sold under all certified farmers’ market sales permits held by any one winegrower are limited to 5,000 gallons, and are to be reported to the ABC.

As of July 2014, the ABC also allows instructional tasting events to be held at certified farmers’ markets under this license, “subject to the authorization and managerial control” of the particular farmers’ market operator. Restrictions on instructional tasting events are as follows: (1) the event area must be separated from the rest of the market by some type of physical barrier (chain, rope, wall), with only one licensee conducting the event; (2) consumers may not leave the instructional tasting area with an open container; and (3) tastings are limited to 3 ounces per person per day.

Winegrowers undoubtedly welcome this expansion of their rights under this particular license, as it allows them to provide their potential consumers with the full farmers’ market experience of sampling the product prior to purchase.

Interestingly, as of January 1, 2015 licensed beer manufacturers are also allowed to sell their products at certified farmers’ markets, but the ABC restrictions differ from those applicable to licensed winegrowers. Most notably, tastings are not permitted, and the licensee can only sell at farmers’ markets located in the same county or an immediately adjacent county to that in which the beer manufacturer is located.