Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
California Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
California — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Only licensed instate manufacturers and winegrowers may sell directly to California retailers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- None; however, while non-local wineries are not required to be licensed to have their products sold in the state, only parties licensed to import wine into California may actually bring it in
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- n/a
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Maximum of 1 liters per brand, only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before; all samples must be clearly labeled
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.20 per gallon; $0.30 per gallon of sparkling wine
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
California — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Out-of-State Beer Manufacturer’s Certification
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $69 annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Board of Equalization may require a tax bond, depending on its evaluation of an applicant brewery
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Yes – if prices vary between counties, each county price must be listed separately
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes – indicated with price posting
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- One bottle or can of a product may be opened on a retailer’s premises for the purpose of sampling; retailer may not have previously purchased that product
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.20 per gallon
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – monthly, BOE-1056
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
California — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, California is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in California.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- California requires a Type 28 Distiller Spirits Shipping Certificate for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers; this requires designating a California-based agent or attorney, but does not require registering with the California Secretary of State.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- California charges $215 initially; renewals cost $115.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in California.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, California does not require an in-state representative for suppliers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, California does not require product brand/labels to be registered before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, California does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, California does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, California does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, California does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In California, only one spirits sample type may be provided at a time, of a maximum size of 500 mL (or the smallest size available if not bottled in 500 mL), and only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before. All samples must be clearly labeled.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in California that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, California-based importers of spirits (often wholesalers) may not purchases spirits produced out-of-state unless they have been designated by the brand owner of the spirits.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes. In California, deliveries must be unloaded at the wholesaler's premises, though it is not indicated for how long.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- California imposes an excise tax of $3.30 per gallon for spirits with an ABV of 50% or less, and $6,60 per gallon for spirits with an ABV greater than 50%.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, California does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes unless also operating as a California-based importer.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- California does not require out-of-state suppliers to file any follow-up reports on their sales to in-state wholesalers, unless also operating as a California-based importer.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
California — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, California is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Only licensed instate manufacturers and winegrowers may sell directly to California retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- California does not require out-of-state cideries to hold a license to sell to wholesalers. However, while non-local cideries are not required to be licensed to have their products sold in the state, only wine Import Licensees may actually bring cider into the state for distribution to wholesalers. Many wholesalers, therefore, also are licensed as importers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, California does not require suppliers' representatives to be licensed.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, California does not require that cider brands/labels be registered with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, California does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, California does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, California does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, California does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In California, suppliers can provide a maximum of one liter per brand as samples to retailers, but only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before. All samples must be clearly labeled.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, in California there are not franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No, California does not have sourcing restrictions on from whom wholesalers can purchase.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No, California does not require cider to come to rest at a wholesaler warehouse before being delivered to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- California imposes a tax on cider of $0.20 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, California wholesalers, not out-of-state suppliers, are required to pay the excise tax on ciders sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- California does not require out-of-state cider suppliers to file a report on their sales to wholesalers in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.