Michiganders will have to wait for out-of-state wine delivery

Michigan residents will have to wait a while longer to order wine in the mail from out of state. 

A recent federal court decision to allow out-of-state retailers to ship wine to Michigan customers has been put on hold. The U.S. Supreme Court took up a similar case from Tennessee, and U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow stayed his own ruling until the higher court makes a decision. The Supreme Court's decision on the Tennessee case is expected to affect the outcome in Michigan.

Tarnow ruled previously that Michigan's ban on wine shipments from out-of-state retailers violated the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. 

Spencer Nevins is president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesaler's Association. He thinks out-of-state wine shipments should not be allowed.

"We're confident that the Supreme Court's going to look at this case, and they're going to uphold state's rights under the 21st Amendment to regulate the import, transportation, and sale of alcohol within their borders," he says.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case by the end of its current term: June 2019.