State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine
Louisiana laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following:
The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect to any household shall not exceed – (1) 200 gallons per calendar year if there are 2 or more adults in such household, or (2) 100 gallons per calendar year if there is only 1 adult in such household.
State Alcoholic Beverages Control Agency
State of Louisiana: Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control
8585 Archives Avenue, Suite 220
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 66404
Baton Rouge, LA 70896-6404
Phone: 504.925.4041
Fax: 504.925.3975
Statute Title & Description
Title 26 Liquors-alcoholic beverages
“Alcoholic beverages” means any fluid or solid capable of being converted into fluid, suitable for human consumption and having an alcoholic content of more than six per cent by volume, including alcohol.
“Sparkling wine” means any effervescent alcoholic beverage derived from the juice of any fruit, or synthesis thereof, charged with carbon dioxide, either artificially or as the result of secondary fermentation within the container.
“Still wine” means any non-effervescent alcoholic beverage derived from the juice of any fruit, or synthesis thereof.
Section 793 Additional powers of the commissioner
The commissioner may provide by regulation for the issuance of three-day permits to serve alcoholic beverages at fairs, festivals, civic and fraternal and religious events, Mardi Gras events, and nonprofit functions. The permits shall be for a duration of three consecutive days only and no more than twelve such permits may be issued to any one person within a single calendar year. Fees for the permits shall be as provided by regulation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner shall issue a three-day special event permit to any retail dealer qualified for on premise consumption who applies for such permit at no fee authorizing the retail dealer to allow a person to bring homebrew alcoholic beverages on his licensed premises for the purpose of possessing, consuming, and serving such homebrew on his licensed premises in connection with homebrew club meetings, organized affairs, exhibitions, or competitions such as homebrewer’s contests, tastings, or judging in accordance with all of the following criteria:
Homebrew shall not be sold or offered for sale.
Homebrew shall be served only to those individuals attending the special event and shall not be served to the patrons of the retail establishment or general public.
All homebrew alcoholic beverages shall be removed from the licensed premises within a reasonable time upon conclusion of the special event.
The retail dealer shall not be required to obtain a special events permit from the Department of Health and Hospitals and shall be exempt from any additional compliance with the state’s Sanitary Code but only with regard to the duration and location of the special event.
For purposes of this Paragraph, “homebrew” shall mean the brewing of beer, mead, and other alcoholic beverages through fermentation on a small scale as a hobby for personal consumption, free distribution at residential social gatherings, and amateur brewing competitions or other noncommercial reasons as provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection regarding special event licenses.
NOTE: The information presented here is not a substitute for legal advice. For detailed information regarding the laws of your state please contact the state’s governing agency and/or a lawyer licensed to practice in your state.
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