Thursday, June 28, 2007 12:30 AM PDT

The Senate Committee on Government Organization unanimously passed a bill to allow more vintners in California to donate and pour their wines at non-profit fundraisers.

Assembly Bill (AB) 323 passed 8-0 and now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further review.

AB 323 enables the increasing number of vintners operating under the license combination “17” (beer and wine wholesaler) and “20” (off-sale beer and wine retailer) to donate and pour their wines alongside wineries at charitable fundraisers. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine. She recently amended the bill to take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature instead of January 2008.

Currently, vintners with an “02” license issued by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control may donate and pour their wines at non-profit fundraising events. But 17/20 vintners may not.