§ 4-201. Jurisdictions

   (a) Counties allowing Class A light wine licenses. -- A Class A light wine license may be issued only in:

   (1) Anne Arundel County;

   (2) Baltimore County;

   (3) Calvert County;

   (4) Caroline County;

   (5) Carroll County;

   (6) Cecil County;

   (7) Dorchester County;

   (8) Frederick County;

   (9) Garrett County;

   (10) Harford County;

   (11) Howard County;

   (12) Kent County;

   (13) Montgomery County;

   (14) Prince George's County;

   (15) Queen Anne's County;

   (16) St. Mary's County;

   (17) Somerset County;

   (18) Talbot County;

   (19) Washington County;

   (20) Wicomico County; and

   (21) Worcester County.

(b) Fees. --

   (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the annual fee for this license is $ 50.

   (2) In Montgomery County the annual license fee is $ 100.

   (3) In Garrett County, the issuing fee for this license is $ 50.

   (4) In Harford County, the annual fee for this license is $ 100.

   (5) In Caroline County, the annual fee for this license shall be set by the Board of License Commissioners with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners.

   (6) In Somerset County, the annual fee for this license is $ 63.

   (7) In Anne Arundel County the annual fee for this license is $ 60.

   (8) In Baltimore County, the fee for this license is $ 100.

(c) Issuance. --

   (1) A Class A light wine license may be issued by the license issuing authority of the county in which the place of business is located to any holder of a Class 4 manufacturer's license.

   (2) A winery in Cecil County that applies for a Class A/Class 4 license is exempt from any quotas established by the Cecil County Board of License Commissioners as to the number of licenses in the election district where the winery is located.

   (3) A winery in Baltimore County that applies for a Class A/Class 4 license is exempt from any quotas established by the Baltimore County Board of License Commissioners as to the number of licenses in the election district where the winery is located.

   (4) A winery in Prince George's County that applies for a Class A/Class 4 license is exempt from any quotas established by the Prince George's County Board of License Commissioners as to the number of licenses in the election district where the winery is located.

(d) Authority conveyed. --

   (1) The license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and to sell light wines produced at the winery in any quantity to any consumer at retail at the place described in the license. The light wine shall be delivered in a sealed package or container which may not be opened or the contents consumed on the licensed premises.

   (2) In Montgomery County the licensee may not make more than 20,000 gallons of on-premises sales per year.

   (3) In Frederick County and Baltimore County, the licensee may keep for sale and sell light wines and ports that contain not in excess of 21 percent of alcohol by volume produced at the winery in any quantity to any consumer at retail at the place described in the license.

   (4) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in Harford County, the licensee may keep for sale and sell light wines and port wines produced at the winery in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.

      (ii) The light wines and port wines under the provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph:

         1. May not exceed 23 percent of alcohol by volume;

         2. May be sold in any quantity to a consumer; and

         3. Shall be sold at retail at the place described in the license.

(e) Special provisions for certain counties. --

   (1) This subsection applies only in the following counties:

      (i) Anne Arundel County;

      (ii) Baltimore County;

      (iii) Frederick County;

      (iv) Garrett County;

      (v) Harford County;

      (vi) Kent County;

      (vii) Somerset County;

      (viii) Talbot County; and

      (ix) Washington County.

   (2) A Class A light wine license may be issued to a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer's license, who makes wine from agricultural products grown in Maryland.

HISTORY: 1978, ch. 490; 1979, chs. 30, 373; 1980, ch. 232; 1981, ch. 26; 1984, chs. 167, 232; 1987, ch. 431; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; ch. 516; 1989, ch. 5, § 15; 1993, ch. 594; 1994, ch. 3, § 2; 1996, ch. 366; 1997, ch. 25, § 2; 1999, ch. 491; 2000, ch. 667; 2004, chs. 107, 345; 2005, chs. 70, 198, 243; 2006, chs. 139, 166, 207; ch. 302, § 2; ch. 573; 2007, ch. 222; 2008, ch. 249; 2009, ch. 716; 2010, ch. 157; 2011, ch. 302.