Winery, farm winery, and limited brewery licensees; distribution of wine and beer.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; winery, farm winery, and limited brewery licensees; distribution of wine and beer. Directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a work group consisting of representatives of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Virginia Wineries Association, the Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association, the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association, and the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and other relevant stakeholders to (i) conduct research to determine the appropriate fee structure and general fund appropriation necessary to adequately address staffing needs and perform information technology system upgrades for the purpose of accommodating winery, farm winery, and limited brewery licensees that wish to utilize the services of the Virginia Winery Distribution Company; (ii) evaluate the number of barrels of beer allowed to be distributed by a limited brewery licensee over the course of one year; and (iii) review and evaluate alternative avenues of distribution, other than distribution through the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, that could be made available to limited brewery licensees. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Winery Distribution Company (the Board) for approval and directs the Board to report any such approved findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on General Laws no later than October 1, 2022.