A state House bill that would allow Pennsylvania wines to be sold at farmers markets won approval by an alcohol oversight committee Tuesday.

The passage of the measure by the House Liquor Control Committee is the first step in the legislative approval process.

The full House is expected to vote on the bill next week.

The measure then could go to the Senate.

The author of the bill, Washington County Democratic Rep. Tim Solobay, said his intentions are to shine a spotlight on the state's more than 90 wineries.

"It's all about promoting Pennsylvania agriculture," he said.

Pennsylvania's winemakers currently may sell their wine at up to five off-site retail outlets and at festivals, but farmers markets are specifically excluded by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

"A whole market was being taken away from (wineries) across the commonwealth," Solobay said.

Solobay said legislators have told him they want to clarify language in the bill about what constitutes a farmers market.

For example, Solobay said, his bill is not intended to permit roadside stands to sell wine.

The bill could be on the governor's desk by May or June, Solobay said.

It then would go into effect by the end of the summer — in time for the wineries' fall products.

In March, when the New Era first reported on the legislation, representatives from Lancaster County wineries and farmers markets had mixed reactions.