No need for new entity to promote N.Y. wines

As a winery owner, I am shocked that anyone would suggest using $3 million of taxpayer money to create a new entity to promote New York wine ("Promote N.Y. wines to grow state revenues," March 4).

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation, wine trails, Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, Wine Country, The Finger Lakes Tourist Association, The Finger Lakes Wine Center in Ithaca, The Wine & Culinary Institute in Canandaigua, chambers of commerce and other organizations throughout New York already do this.

Based on experience and marketing, we and the hundreds of other wineries who support wine sales in food stores know the best way to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue — and promote New York wines — is to simply give wineries the opportunity to sell their farm product in stores that already sell beer.

The guest columnist mentioned lost stores, but I've seen no proof that liquor stores will close simply because wine also is sold in groceries. Wine is sold in groceries in 35 states, and in those states grocery and liquor stores co-exist successfully.

In fact, 6,000 new jobs will be created at farms, wineries, in stores and elsewhere when the state Legislature allows the sale of wine in food stores to benefit consumers and taxpayers.

Carol Doolittle

Co-owner, Frontenac Point Vineyard & Estate Winery