(Wines&Vines) - Washington lawmakers have approved the creation of a permit that will enable the state’s wineries to hold an off-premise, private event where they may deliver wine purchases, provide tastings of their own wine and sell bottles for off-premise consumption.

The new law effectively extends tasting room privileges to up to 12 off-premises events per year, providing the events are “not open to the general public” and are for “the purpose of tasting and selling wine of (the winery’s) own production.”

“It’s the permit that travels with you,” said Josh McDonald, executive director of the Washington Wine Institute. “This is an exciting new tool that we think all of our wineries will find beneficial.”

The permit provides an additional tool for wineries to take their products on the road, building on previous initiatives that have expanded where wines can be offered, tasted and sold.

Nevertheless, the circumstances and flow of wine remains tightly regulated, with designated retailers typically responsible for off-premise wine sales.

“We have very few options now to get our wines off our premises and be able to taste and sell in a different urban environment, or wherever it may be,” McDonald said. “Generally, this new permit will allow them to have another tool to market their wines, whether or not they have a tasting room outside of their winery location.”

McDonald discussed the change with Woodinville Wine Country members last week and found a receptive audience. Craig Leuthold, co-owner of Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, Wash., agreed. Leuthold wrote in favor of the bill, having previously tried to take his winery’s popular products to wine club members only to find himself unable to get a permit.

“You could do a tasting event, but there were no retail sales associated with it,” he said.

Leuthold contacted the Washington Wine Institute, which took action—something he’s pleased to see.

“Most wineries are located in Eastern Washington and, especially in the winter months, it’s pretty inaccessible for wine club members to come and pick up their wine,” he said. The permit “allows us to load the wine up and go to Vancouver or Seattle (Wash.), find a location, and be able to pour those wines for our members. And (they’re) able to buy the wines and/or pick up wines.”