(Wines&Vines) - With legislation now signed that changes Pennsylvania’s status as a control state for wine sales, out-of-state wineries are especially interested in the state as a new market for direct-to-consumer shipments.

Steve Gross, vice president of state relations at the California-based Wine Institute, told Wines & Vines that with this new law in place, Pennsylvania becomes the 44th state where producers can ship wine direct to consumers (DtC). “Now Pennsylvania consumers will be able to get wines that consumers in other states can order,” he said.

According to Jeremy Benson, director of Free the Grapes, Pennsylvania is an important state—not just for California wine producers, but for producers across the country. “First, Pennsylvania is the 12th largest wine-consuming state in the country. Second, it’s by far the largest state that effectively bans DtC sales currently, and, third, there’s a lot of latent demand in the state for DtC wine sales,” Benson said.

Wines & Vines spoke with two California wine producers who are already selling their wines through the PLCB state stores. Both were very enthusiastic about the possibilities for increased sales in Pennsylvania. Dennis Cakebread, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Cakebread Cellars in Rutherford, Calif., noted, “It’s good for consumers to have the freedom of choice. The amazing part is how long it took to get this law passed.”