I keep hearing about how it is now legal to ship wine directly from a winery to a consumer across state lines. Is that true?

This is a very complex question, the answer to which is constantly changing as different states continue to modify their laws pertaining to direct wine shipping (directly from the winery to the consumer) both within a given state, and outside a given state. To see more detailed, updated information on this very complex matter, please visit the dedicated page at Wine America's excellent website here:

http://wineamerica.org/shipment/map.htm

WineAmerica (formerly the American Vintners Association) was founded in 1978 as the Association of American Vintners, a trade association of wineries with membership based in the eastern U.S. Its early mission included fostering general communications within the developing wine industry, providing a unified voice for government relations issues and comprehensive, affordable insurance for its members.