Nevada Legislature: Committee passes bill lifting winery ban in counties

A Nevada Senate committee has passed a compromise bill that repeals the state’s partial ban on wineries.

Members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved AB4 on Friday. It now heads to the Senate floor.

The bill would repeal a state law prohibiting wineries in Clark and Washoe counties from importing wine from other states or serving alcoholic beverages on their premises.

A winery in Pahrump initially opposed the bill, saying that changing the law too quickly could harm the state’s four existing wineries just as they’re gaining strength.

The amended bill aims to ensure a significant portion of wine at newcomer wineries is made from Nevada-grown fruit. If a wine isn’t made of at least 25 percent Nevada fruit, wineries are limited to serving 1,000 cases of it.