Wine Sales Event Permits

Who May Obtain a Wine Sales Event Permit

Any licensee holding a Winegrowers License (Type 02) may apply for a wine sales event permit. A wine sales event permit authorizes the licensee to sell bottled wine produced by the winegrower for consumption off the premises where sold and only at fairs, festivals or cultural events sponsored by designated tax exempt organizations, or similar events approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

How to Apply

Submit a completed Additional License/Permit Application (Form ABC-239) to your nearest ABC office. For information regarding fees for the wine sales event permit, please contact your local ABC office. Please note that each licensee may apply for only one wine sales event permit.

Event Authorization

To use your wine sales event permit, you must comply with the restrictions listed below and notify the city, county, or city and county where the event is being held at least five (5) days prior to the event. In addition, you must also obtain approval from ABC for each event. To obtain this approval, you must file an event authorization (Form ABC-222) with your nearest ABC office at least three (3) working days prior to the event.

Permit Restrictions

The Wine Sales Event permit is subject to the following restrictions:

• The permit authorizes the sale of bottled wine at festivals, state, county, district or citrus fruit fairs, and at civic or cultural celebrations and the event shall be sponsored by an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 23701a of the Revenue and Taxation Code, including state designated fairs as specified in Section 19418 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or exempt from taxation under Section 23701b, 23701d, 23701e, 23701k, 23701l, 23701r, or 23701w of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
• The sale of the wine shall not be the primary purpose of the event, and the sale shall be for consumption off the premises where sold
• The permit shall be valid for a maximum of five consecutive days during the event period.
• A wine sales event permit may not be used more than two times a month at a particular location.
• At all events, a copy of the wine sales permit shall be maintained.
• A licensee holding a wine sales event permit may not sell more than 1,250 gallons of wine per event.
• A licensee may not sell more than 5,000 gallons of wine annually pursuant to this permit.
•  A licensee that is eligible to receive a certified farmers’ market sales permit under Section 23399.4 and a wine sales event permit may not, under both permits collectively, sell more than a total of 5,000 gallons of wine annually.
• The licensee shall annually report to the department the total gallons of wine sold by that licensee under this permit.