Shipping wine to Delaware becomes legal on August 15, 2026, when House Bill 187 takes effect. After that date, licensed wineries can send wine directly to Delaware households, but only if the winery doesn’t already go through a Delaware wholesaler, and shipments are capped per household and verified at the door.1Delaware General Assembly. House Bill 187 – AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DIRECT PURCHASING AND SHIPMENT OF WINE
When You Can Start Ordering
The governor signed HB 187 on August 15, 2025, with a one-year delay built in. Direct-to-consumer wine shipments to Delaware addresses are not legal under the new framework until August 15, 2026. The law also carries a sunset: it expires automatically five years after it takes effect unless the General Assembly renews it, which puts the current window at August 2026 through mid-2031.
Which Wineries Can Ship to You
Only wine producers can hold a Delaware Wine Direct Shipper License. That covers farm wineries in Delaware and out-of-state producers that would qualify as farm wineries if they were located here.2Justia. Delaware Code Title 4 Chapter 5 Subchapter II Section 526-d-1 – Direct Shipping of Wine Wine retailers, grocery stores, and online wine clubs that don’t produce their own wine cannot get a license and cannot legally ship to you.
There’s a bigger catch for most buyers. A winery that already has a distribution agreement with a licensed Delaware wholesaler is barred from shipping directly to Delaware households. That exclusion extends to subsidiary brands under a producer that has a wholesaler relationship in the state. The practical effect: many of the labels you already see on Delaware shelves are off-limits for direct shipping. The program is built to open access to wines that aren’t otherwise available through Delaware’s retail and wholesale network, not to let you reorder what the local store already carries.
Before ordering, it’s worth confirming the winery is eligible. The Office of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner is required to maintain a public list of manufacturers and products distributed by Delaware wholesalers,3Delaware Code. Delaware Code Title 4 Chapter 5 Subchapter II Section 526 which is the reference for who is and isn’t excluded. If a brand you want is already on Delaware store shelves, direct shipping is almost certainly not available for that producer.
How Much Wine You Can Receive
Each Delaware household can receive up to three 9-liter cases of wine per year, which comes out to about 36 standard 750-milliliter bottles.1Delaware General Assembly. House Bill 187 – AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DIRECT PURCHASING AND SHIPMENT OF WINE Wine shipped under this license is for personal consumption only and cannot be resold. Each licensed winery is separately capped at 1,800 9-liter cases shipped into Delaware per year across all customers.
What Happens at Delivery
You need to be 21 or older to buy, and the winery must verify your age before processing the order. The package itself must be labeled to show it contains alcohol and that an adult signature is required.1Delaware General Assembly. House Bill 187 – AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DIRECT PURCHASING AND SHIPMENT OF WINE
At the door, the carrier has to scan and retain the recipient’s ID and confirm the person signing is at least 21. Delivery drivers are also required to complete training on responsible alcohol delivery. If no one 21 or older is available to sign, the carrier cannot leave the package. After failed attempts, the shipment typically goes back to the winery.
What It Costs
Delaware has no general sales tax, so wine shipments don’t carry a sales tax charge. Wine coming into the state is subject to Delaware’s excise tax of $1.63 per gallon, which works out to roughly $0.33 per standard 750-milliliter bottle.4Delaware Department of Finance. Alcoholic Beverage Tax The winery is responsible for collecting and remitting the excise tax, so you’ll see it either folded into the purchase price or itemized at checkout. Shipping charges are separate and set by the carrier.
Who Will Actually Deliver
Any common carrier that handles these shipments needs its own Delaware carrier permit from the OABCC. The ID-scanning and driver-training requirements are stricter than most states impose, and UPS and FedEx have reportedly raised concerns about complying. If the large national carriers decline to participate, wineries will have to use smaller regional carriers that hold Delaware permits, which could mean higher shipping costs and fewer delivery options once the law goes live.