California Expands Winery Sales and Tasting Opportunities: SB 917 and AB 720 Explained
California’s wine industry is fighting through one of its worst stretches in decades. Growers pulled more than 38,000 acres of vineyards out of the ground between late 2024 and mid-2025. The 2025 crush dropped below 2.5 million tons, the smallest harvest since 2000. Small wineries and boutique winemakers have been hit hardest.
Sacramento responded with two pieces of legislation that open new direct-to-consumer sales channels for California winegrowers. Senate Bill 917 rewrites the rules for wine sales and tastings at certified farmers’ markets. Assembly Bill 720 creates an entirely new permit type that lets wineries host tasting events at their own vineyards and estate properties.
Both laws are now in effect or taking effect soon. If you hold (or plan to apply for) a Type 02 winegrower license, here is what changed and what you need to do about it.
What SB 917 Changes for Certified Farmers’ Market Wine Sales
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 917 on August 27, 2026. The law takes effect January 1, 2027. It amends Section 23399.4 of the California Business and Professions Code and directly changes how the Type 79 Certified Farmers’ Market Sales Permit works.
Senator John Laird authored the bill. Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers co-sponsored it.
The Estate-Grown Requirement Is Gone
Under existing law before SB 917, a winegrower holding a Type 02 license could obtain a Type 79 permit to sell wine at certified farmers’ markets. But there was a catch. The wine had to be produced entirely from grapes grown by the winegrower. That estate-grown requirement locked out hundreds of small wineries and boutique producers that source fruit from third-party California growers.
SB 917 eliminates that restriction. Starting January 1, 2027, Type 79 permit holders can sell and pour any wine bottled by the winery at certified farmers’ markets, regardless of where the grapes were sourced.
For small winemakers who purchase fruit from contract growers, this is a significant shift. It opens a direct-to-consumer sales channel that was previously off-limits.
More Instructional Tastings Per Market
The old law limited instructional tastings to one Type 79 permit holder per certified farmers’ market during operating hours. That cap applied regardless of the market’s size or capacity.
SB 917 raises that limit to three. Up to three Type 79 permit holders can now conduct instructional tastings simultaneously at a single market. Market operators still have the final say on how many pouring vendors they allow, but the statutory bottleneck is removed.
Compliance Rules That Haven’t Changed
SB 917 expands access, but the operational requirements for certified farmers’ market wine sales remain in place:
- Tastings must happen during market operating hours
- The tasting area must be separated from the rest of the market by a rope, cable, fence, or other temporary barrier
- Samples are limited to 3 ounces per person per day
- Consumers cannot leave the tasting area with an open container
- All servers must have completed Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training
What AB 720 Does: The New Type 93 Estate Tasting Event Permit
Assembly Bill 720 attacks the problem from a different angle. Instead of expanding farmers’ market access, it creates an entirely new ABC license category: the Type 93 Estate Tasting Event Permit.
Governor Newsom signed AB 720 in October 2025. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control began accepting Type 93 applications on January 1, 2026. The permit is already active, and wineries across the state are using it.
The bill was sponsored by Wine Institute and authored by Assemblymember Suzette Valladares (previously credited to Rogers).
Where You Can Host Events
The Type 93 permit authorizes a winegrower to exercise tasting room privileges outside of their bonded winery premises. Two types of locations qualify:
- Adjacent property owned or controlled by the licensee that sits next to the licensed winery premises
- Non-adjacent vineyards owned or controlled by the licensee, even if they are in a completely different part of the state
The key phrase is “owned by or under control of.” You cannot host a Type 93 event on someone else’s vineyard property unless you have a qualifying control arrangement.
At these approved locations, the winery can pour and sell wine manufactured by or for the winegrower. You can conduct tastings, sell bottles on-site, and sign up wine club members.
How Many Events and What It Costs
The Type 93 permit has a clear cap: no more than 36 event authorizations per licensee per calendar year. That works out to roughly one event every 10 days.
Each event requires its own authorization from ABC. You cannot simply get the permit and start hosting. The per-event application must be submitted at least 3 days (and no more than 90 days) before the event.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Type 93 permit fee | $200 (plus $10 surcharge) |
| Per-event authorization fee | $100 |
| Maximum events per year | 36 |
The permit renews annually at the same time as the underlying Type 02 winegrower license.
One important note on cost: the $100 per-event fee is non-refundable. If your local jurisdiction denies the required local approval after ABC has already issued the event authorization, you do not get that money back.
Local Approvals Still Apply
This is where many winegrowers are hitting friction. A Type 93 event authorization from ABC does not override local land-use authority. Every county and municipality has its own approval requirements for special events on agricultural land.
Napa County, for example, launched a pilot program limiting Type 93 events to 49 attendees (including staff), restricting events to daylight hours, and capping vehicle trips at 40 per day. San Luis Obispo County implemented similar guidelines with its own pilot program. Sonoma County issued separate guidance on how Type 93 permits interact with agricultural zoning districts.
Before you invest in planning a vineyard tasting event, check with your local jurisdiction first. Their requirements may be stricter than what the state permits.
All standard tasting room regulations still apply at Type 93 events, including RBS training requirements for anyone serving alcoholic beverages.
SB 917 vs. AB 720: Side-by-Side Comparison
These two laws serve different purposes and create different opportunities. Here is how they compare:
| SB 917 | AB 720 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Expands Type 79 certified farmers’ market wine sales | Creates new Type 93 estate tasting event permit |
| License required | Type 02 + Type 79 permit | Type 02 + Type 93 permit |
| Where | Certified farmers’ markets | Adjacent winery property or owned/controlled vineyards |
| Effective date | January 1, 2027 | January 1, 2026 (already active) |
| Key change | Removes estate-grown grape requirement; allows up to 3 tasting vendors per market | Allows up to 36 pop-up tasting events per year outside the bonded winery |
| Annual permit fee | Existing Type 79 fee schedule | $200 + $10 surcharge |
| Per-event cost | None (beyond existing permit) | $100 per event authorization |
| RBS training required | Yes | Yes |
| Local approval needed | Market operator approval | Local jurisdiction approval required |
| Signed by Governor | August 27, 2026 | October 2025 |
What California Winegrowers Should Do Before January
Both laws are designed to help small wineries sell more wine directly to consumers. But neither one works automatically. Here is a practical checklist for winegrowers looking to take advantage of these new sales channels.
For SB 917 (Farmers’ Market Sales):
- If you hold a Type 02 license but never qualified for a Type 79 permit because of the estate-grown requirement, start your permit application now. January 1, 2027 is the effective date.
- Contact your target certified farmers’ markets to confirm vendor availability. The law allows up to three tasting vendors, but market operators set their own rules.
- Ensure all staff who will pour at markets have current RBS certification.
For AB 720 (Estate Tasting Events):
- Apply for the Type 93 permit through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control if you have not already. The application process is open now.
- Contact your local county planning or fire marshal’s office to learn what local approvals are required before you can host events on your property.
- Budget for the $100 per-event authorization fee and plan your event calendar against the 36-event annual cap.
- Submit each event authorization to ABC between 3 and 90 days before the scheduled date.
The licensing and permit process for both SB 917 and AB 720 involves coordination between the state ABC, your local jurisdiction, and your existing license structure. If you need help with a Type 79 certified farmers’ market sales permit, a Type 93 estate tasting event permit, or any other California ABC licensing matter, contact GGS Licensing to discuss your situation.
