This bill aims to allocate certain winery licensing fees to support the New Jersey wine industry by depositing these funds into the New Jersey Wine Promotion Account for a period of five years. Specifically, it mandates that the fees collected from various winery licenses, including farm and plenary wineries, wine blending licensees, instructional winemaking facilities, and out-of-State wineries, be appropriated annually to the Department of Agriculture. The funds will be utilized by the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council to provide grants for projects focused on the research, development, and promotion of the state's wine industry.
The intent behind this legislation is to temporarily redirect approximately $680,000 in annual revenue from winery fees to enhance marketing efforts for New Jersey wineries. By investing in the growth of the wine industry, the sponsors believe that this initiative will ultimately lead to increased sales and revenue for the state in the future. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following its enactment.