Michigan wine drinkers can now take leftover bottles of wine home from restaurants and may, someday, be able to order wine from out-of-state wineries to be shipped directly to their homes.

A new state law signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm May 19 and effective immediately allows restaurants to re-seal open bottles of wine for diners to carry home with them.

Several local restaurant managers say the new recorking law is a common-sense convenience for diners and may stimulate additional wine sales at restaurants. In the past, customers were prohibited from taking home a bottle of wine from a restaurant after it had been opened, no matter how much of the contents was left.

“People may tend to buy more wine, more expensive and different wine, now that the law allows them to take those bottles home with them,” said Patti Ann Moskwa, of Yankee Rebel Tavern and Horn’s Gaslight Bar on Mackinac Island.

She said for patrons to get the take-home bottle, they must have ordered food. The bottle has to be resealed and bagged and, if it is to be transported in a car, it must be put in the truck or be otherwise out of reach of the driver and occupants.

“The nice thing about it is people will drink less and won’t be conflicted with trying to drink all the wine they bought at the restaurant so they won’t waste their money,” said George Yshinksi of the Marina Pub in St. Ignace.

How Michigan residents will benefit from a United States Supreme Court decision on May 20 will be up to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, which regulates alcohol distribution in the state, but the high court’s ruling allows out-of-state wineries to enjoy the same benefits as in-state wineries when shipping products to consumers.

At least 24 states, including Michigan and New York, have barred direct out-of-state shipments of wine and now must revise their laws. Requiring outside wineries to sell their products through licensed wholesalers in the state has enabled the state to collect alcohol taxes.

Critics of the new ruling contend allowing direct shipments of wine may make purchasing alcohol through the Internet easier for minors.

“Michigan was one of the states that would not allow you to go on vacation out of state and mail home wine you liked at your visit,” said Mrs. Moskwa. “Then, regulation changed that you could only ship three bottles, meaning the state prevented anyone from stocking up on out-of-state wine.”

The Supreme Court ruling does not affect international wineries. To buy from them, American consumers must go through importers or pay duties when bringing bottles into the United States.