As we've covered before, the big losers in the passage of HB 429 in 2007 were out-of-state retailers looking to sell their wines to customers in Illinois. A bill introduced last Friday by state Representative Julie Hamos (D - Evanston) could restore the rights of those retailers to do business in Illinois. more ›

When HB 429, the state wine shipping law supported by the liquor industry with $3.5 million in campaign contributions to its political sponsors, went into law last year (see previous Chicagoist coverage of HB 429 here, here, here and here), it effectively reduced the access of Illinois wine consumers to wine by prohibiting the sale to us from out-of-state retailers, although in-state retailers can still ship out-of-state. more ›

If you're a member of an out-of-state wine club or shop online from an out-of-state wine retailer, you have a few days left to place an order. So make it count. more ›

After being slighted by the passage of HB 429 last summer, the members of the Illinois Winemakers Alliance - comprising the larger wineries and vineyards in the state - have taken those lessons to heart. more ›