Consumers soon may be able to buy Pennsylvania wines in farmers markets.

A bill sponsored by state Rep. Tim Solobay, a Washington County Democrat, would add farmers markets to the list of venues where wines produced by Pennsylvania vineyards may be sold.

Wine tastings also would be permitted.

Previously, wineries were permitted to operate off-site stores and could purchase permits allowing them to sell their wares at arts and crafts shows, musical activities and cultural or agricultural exhibits.

"This opens up a lot more venues for them and provides more opportunity to show their wares, especially in open-air markets or county fairs," Solobay said.

The bill, approved Friday, would go into effect as soon as Gov. Ed Rendell signs it.

Solobay called the bill's passage "a great day for Pennsylvania farmers markets, Pennsylvania's wineries and consumers."

Some local wineries are not so sure. Two of Lancaster County's largest vineyards have no plans to open market stands.

"I doubt we would do that," said Barbara Lacek, marketing director for Mount Hope Estate and Winery. "We're always in favor of additional locations from which wines can be sold, but this probably would not be something we would pursue."

Judith W. Nissley, president and co-owner of Nissley Vineyards in Bainbridge, does not see any benefit to the bill because previous restrictions still apply.

Before the bill was amended to include farmers markets, wineries had to obtain special permits to sell their products anywhere but on-site or at their own licensed outlets. The special permits were good for up to five consecutive days, and no more than a total of 40 days per year.

"If I went into a market and the market was open two days a week, I still couldn't be in there for the whole year," she said. "I'd need to have a permit for at least 80 days a year. So to say we can now be in a farmers market; I doubt that's true."

Nissley would rather the Legislature allow wineries to sell their products in supermarkets and grocery stores.

Solobay agreed that the time restrictions still exist, but believes the new bill is a step forward for the state's 90-plus wineries.

As for placing wines in supermarkets, he said there is "conversation about it."

"This was a narrow issue that we were dealing with," Solobay said. "We may see the supermarket venue coming up in the fall, but it was too much to try to get into right now. It might have held things up and the wineries would have lost the summer."

It's not just local wineries that are unimpressed with the legislation. With the exception of state Reps. Mike Sturla and Tom Creighton, Lancaster County's entire Harrisburg delegation, both in the House and Senate, voted "no" on the bill.

That included Sen. Mike Brubaker, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

He said selling wine at farmers markets "brings a whole new level of regulatory control to a business" unused to stiff regulation.

"The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board would now be inspecting these facilities," he said.

Brubaker also felt farmers markets are "ill-equipped" to store "sensitive inventory" such as alcohol.

Brubaker said he also opposes wine tasting at markets.

"Giving free samples of wine at a conventional farm market, especially in Lancaster County, will potentially be problematic for some of the customers," Brubaker said.

Joining him in voting "no" was state Sen. Gib Armstrong.

"In my district, people are more inclined to be against that," Armstrong said. "I'm representing my district with that vote."

State Rep. Katie True voted against the bill as a matter of conscience.

"I never vote in favor of anything to do with alcohol," she said.

State Rep. Gordon Denlinger feels the bill promotes alcohol use.

"I tend to vote against the expansion of alcohol sales," he said. "I'm not a fan of promoting more alcohol use in society. My vote was in accordance with my position."

Should Rendell sign the bill into law, Lancaster city residents would not see wine in Central Market anytime soon.

Michael J. Rosenkrantz, market manager, said no wineries have approached him about sales. However, he is open to the idea.

"We support Pennsylvania agriculture," he said. "If someone approaches us, we would evaluate it like we would any other prospective stand holder."

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com