New liquor law permits buying wine at festivals

DE SOTO, Kan. (AP) - A new state law will make a wine tasting festival in De Soto the first in Kansas that will allow patrons to buy wine at the event.

Under a bill signed during the recent legislative session, wineries at festivals will be able to sell bottles of wine. Previously, wine drinkers could taste the wine at the festival but had to drive to wineries to buy bottles.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Winesong at Riverfest on June 16 will be the first wine festival since the law took effect.

Greg Shipe owns a Eudora winery that will be one of 14 at the festival. He says the new law will make it easier on wineries and their customers. He says wineries couldn't make any money at previous tastings.