Metro East Sun

State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) promised to help wineries recover from their current financial grapple. 

She made her remarks during the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee hearing at Southern Illinois University after getting firsthand information on the present state of winegrowers from Steve Gorazd, co-owner of Bella Vista Winery in Maryville.

“Restaurants and bars get most of the news coverage,” Gorazd said. “Wineries have been just as affected, if not more, because of ongoing expenses. ... Tourism is critical to attracting customers to our destination. Any help towards the wine industry in Illinois is greatly appreciated.”

Bryant explained there is a bill that would amplify fees for wineries.

“HB 2620 was a total rework of licensure for alcohol,” she stated. “One of those was an increase for a fee for winegrowers. I made an issue of it on the floor and it fell on deaf ears. It is a big deal to our industry in deep southern Illinois, but I haven’t heard from any of the other winegrowers. Is this going to affect you in any significant way, because I want to see this reversed.”

Gorazd confirmed that it will affect wine growers and has no knowledge of what was going on. He further said that “we felt slighted that that was snuck through on a bill that was for distilleries and beer producers.” He approximates a $450 increase for small wineries, which is a significant additional expense for winegrowers who have “come through a really harsh year.”

“One of our most important industries got dinged in a really large way,” Bryant echoed him. “None of us saw that coming. I want you to know it will be a project of mine going forward.”

HB2620 would amend the Liquor Control Act of 1934.

It would revise fees for first-class wine manufacturers, first-class wine-maker licenses as well as establish fees for class 3 brewer and beer showcase permit licenses.

The bill has been sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his approval.