Existing law provides for the operation of wineries in this State. Under existing law, a winery that has been issued a wine-maker's license on or before September 30, 2015, is authorized to sell at retail or serve by the glass, on its premises and at one other location, wine produced, blended or aged by the winery. (NRS 597.240) Section 1 of this bill authorizes a winery that has been issued a wine-maker's license on or after October 1, 2015, to also sell at retail or serve by the glass, at one other location in addition to its premises, wine produced, blended or aged by the winery. If a winery has been issued a wine-maker's license on or after October 1, 2015, and less than 25 percent of the wine produced, blended or aged by the winery is produced, blended or aged from fruit grown or honey produced in this State, existing law limits the amount of wine that the winery is authorized to sell at retail or serve by the glass to 1,000 cases per calendar year. (NRS 597.240) Section 1 increases that limit to 2,000 cases and additionally authorizes such a winery to sell at retail or serve by the glass not more than 150 barrels of cider produced by the winery per calendar year. Existing law authorizes the State Board of Agriculture to adopt regulations for the purposes of ensuring that a winery is in compliance with certain federal labeling requirements. (NRS 597.240) Section 1 additionally authorizes the Board to adopt regulations creating a certification for wine produced, blended or aged from fruit grown or honey produced in this State. Existing law provides for the licensure of importers, wholesale wine and liquor dealers, wholesale beer dealers, wine-makers, instructional wine-making facilities, breweries, brew pubs, craft distilleries and estate distilleries. (Chapter 369 of NRS) Existing law sets forth a process by which a board of county commissioners or the governing body of an incorporated city may, after an investigation, the issuance of a citation for a licensee to answer a verified complaint and a hearing, recommend to the Department of Taxation the suspension or revocation of the license of a licensee. (NRS 369.240, 369.250, 369.260) Section 2 of this bill revises that process to require a hearing to be conducted and a decision to be rendered recommending the suspension or revocation of a license, or the dismissal of a complaint, within 60 days after a citation is served upon a licensee.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 597.240, 369.260
Reprint 1: 597.240, 369.260
As Enrolled: 597.240, 369.260
BDR: 597.240, 369.260