By MARGIE TRAX PAGE
Staff Writer
mtrax@starbeacon.com
As easily as a cork is popped out of a wine bottle, it can be put right back in, according to a new law that lets wine drinkers take home partially consumed bottles of wine from restaurants.
The new "Merlot to Go" law, which was signed by Gov. Bob Taft in June, took effect Wednesday. The law allows wine consumers to take home half-empty recorked bottles of wine from wineries and restaurants.
"This is a simple but powerful law and it is very good for our business," said Donniella Winchell, executive director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association.
Previously, an opened bottle meant consumers had to finish all their wine or leave the rest.
Mary Jo Ferrante of Ferrante's Winery and Ristorante in Harpersfield Township said the new law will mean fewer drunk drivers.
"Under the old open-container laws, customers would drink the wine because they bought it, not necessarily because they wanted to drink it or thought it was safe to drink it," Ferrante said.
Now that customers can take their wine home with them, they won't feel obligated to finish the bottle, she said.
Don Woodward, owner of The Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake, said the old law was "pretty silly."
"Our customers would get very irate about wasting wine they had bought. We have been after legislators, for years, to fix this," he said.
The law allows bartenders and servers to recork the bottles so long as the bottle looks like it has been opened. The bottle must be resealed with a label or tape and placed in the locked trunk of a car. If the vehicle doesn't have a trunk, the bottle may be placed behind the seat farthest from the driver, beyond the driver's reach, the law states.
"You can't take home a bottle of opened wine from your Aunt Betty's house. The wine must be purchased at and resealed by a establishment with a liquor license," Winchell explained.
Though both Ferrante and Woodward don't expect the law to impact wine sales, both said the legislation is a positive step for the wine industry.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 9/22/2006
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