SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Senate Bill 917 by Senator John Laird, expanding opportunities for small winemakers to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets.

“California’s wineries are hurting, and SB 917 delivers real relief,” said Laird. “By cutting red tape and opening new markets, we’re giving small producers more opportunities to get their products directly to consumers. I’m grateful the Governor signed this commonsense measure into law and gave California’s small wineries another tool to compete and succeed.”

Sponsored by the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, SB 917 modernizes existing law governing Type 79 farmers market wine permits to better reflect today’s wine economy and help small producers reach new consumers.

“The passage of SB 917 is a win for California winemakers, grape growers, and consumers alike,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, Board President of Family Winemakers of California. “We thank Senator Laird for his leadership in removing outdated barriers surrounding the farmers market permit. By opening up market access to small and mid-sized family producers, this bill provides a vital economic lifeline – allowing wineries to connect directly with their communities, tell their stories, and grow their businesses.”

“SB 917 is about helping consumers connect with their local winemakers and growers,” said Natalie Collins, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “This bill will help small growers and wineries showcase their local wines and engage with new consumers at farmers markets. We thank Family Winemakers of California for their diligence in advocacy and Senator Laird and his staff for their leadership in the Legislature.”

Under previous law, winemakers could only sell wine at farmers markets if it was produced exclusively from “estate-grown” grapes, meaning all grapes had to be grown on-site. This requirement excluded many small and boutique wineries that responsibly source grapes from California growers. Existing law also limited instructional tastings to only one Type 79 permit holder per farmers market, regardless of market size or capacity.

SB 917 allows non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers markets and expands the number of permitted instructional tastings, providing more equitable access for small producers and giving local market operators greater flexibility to determine participation. The new law will also encourage consumers to support locally made wine, strengthening small businesses and regional economies.

SB 917 will take effect on January 1, 2027.