TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida is one of 24 states that will have to review its laws banning out-of-state shipments of wine as the result of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The court ruled Monday that wine lovers may buy directly from out-of-state vineyards.
The decision strikes down laws in New York and Michigan banning a practice that has flourished because of the Internet and growing popularity of winery tours.
The court said the state bans are discriminatory and anticompetitive.
The decision also means that Legislatures in the other 22 states that have such bans will have to review their laws to make sure in-state and out-of-state wineries are treated equally.
"I am pleased the Supreme Court did that. It just makes no sense that a special interest would have the right to impede someone within the proper safeguards to purchase wine across state lines," said Gov. Jeb Bush.
While the ruling only involves wine sales, industry groups expect that it will soon apply to beer and other alcoholic beverages currently regulated through state-licensed wholesalers and retailers.
