Distillery tasting rooms coming to foothills?

From the blog of SierraFoodWineArt:
New legislation, signed by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this year, the Taste California Act (AB 933) allows manufacturers of distilled spirits and brandy to provide tastings on terms similar to breweries and wineries starting Jan. 1, 2014.

Before AB 933, distilleries could provide complementary samples but, unlike breweries and wineries, could not charge. About 32 distilleries in the state will benefit from changes to tied-house laws. California was among only four states that prohibited distillery tasting rooms.

“This is an exciting time for artisan distillers, as this long-overdue change allows them to market and promote their unique products to the public,” said Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, who introduced the legislation. “And I’m happy to toast to the growth of artisan distillers here in California.”

“We welcome more comprehensive changes to outdated alcohol and beverage control laws, so that California can become the leader of the distillery industry,” said Cris Steller, CADG Executive Director and partner in Dry Diggings Distillery, based in El Dorado Hills (5050 Robert J. Mathews Pkwy, El Dorado Hills, 95762). Products under development are vodka, whiskey and other liquors/eaux de vie that will be produced from locally grown products.

The rest of the article is here.

Author: jeffpelline

Jeff Pelline is a veteran editor and award-winning journalist - in print and online. He is publisher of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com. Jeff covered business and technology for The San Francisco Chronicle for 12 years, and he was a founding editor and Editor of CNET News for eight years, among other positions. Jeff has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's from Northwestern University. His hobbies include sailing, swimming, and trout fishing in the Sierra. View all posts by jeffpelline