Wine sales start in Tennessee grocery stores

JACKSON, Tenn. — From boxed to bottled, hundreds of Tennessee grocery stores are now selling wine.

“When I was here earlier this week, the signs were up and said they were open for wine sales July 1, so here I am,” wine shopper Rochelle Inman said.

Legislation allowing wine sales in grocery stores passed in 2014. On Friday, wine drinkers were able to see their favorite bottles make it past the checkout line.

Whether you said “bottoms up” to the law or feel the change doesn’t sit well on your palette, one word kept popping up in conversations with shoppers — convenience.

“Convenience is a big deal. I’m here buying chicken and maybe I don’t want to make a separate trip to go buy my wine,” Michael Zeigler said.

More than 400 stores across the state are now selling wine. Kroger on University Parkway is stocked with more than 1,100 varieties.

With so many Cabernets, pinots and white zins to choose from, Kroger staff said they’ll have a wine consultant on hand five days a week to help shoppers.

“Not everybody’s palette is the same,” wine consultant Randy Kail said. “It’s your taste. It’s what you like,” he said.

Unlike beer sales, shoppers won’t be able to snag a bottle every day of the week. “By state law, we are not allowed to sell wine on Sundays or any major holidays,” said Chuck Priest, Kroger customer first manager.

The alcoholic beverage commission started accepting applications for sales from retailers in January.