On Friday Governor Deval Patrick signed the Fiscal Year 2015 budget into law. Included in the budget is an amendment sure to pique the boozy interest of wine connoisseurs and vino indulgers alike.  That’s right lushes, you can now officially ship out-of-state wine into Massachusetts.

Thanks to the support of Representatives Bradley Jones of North Reading, George Peterson of Grafton, Bradford Hill of Ipswich, Elizabeth Poirier of North Attleborough and Viriato deMacedo of Plymouth, a bill to regulate the direct shipment of wine was included along with a handful of consumer protection and professional licensure issues that made it out of committee and onto the desk of Governor Patrick.

The law is now essentially as thus: If a person or company is licensed to manufacture, sell and export wine by either the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or another state, they are allowed to dispatch their wine to any Bay Stater aged 21 or older provided they possess a direct shipment license.

A direct shipment license can be obtained easily. An established commission by the law need only receive an annual payment of $100 as well as copy of the applicable alcoholic beverage license to manufacture, export and sell its wine as issued by the appropriate licensing authority, and Voilŕ! You can now start sending me all the wine you want me to drink.

Naturally, there are some rules and regulations tacked on to uphold public safety and keep minors from getting their crunk on. If it’s found that wine is shipped to someone 21 years old or younger, a first offense shall carry a fine of $1000. A second offense is punishable by a $2000 fine and a third offense, well, you don’t want to go there. You’ll be faced with a fine of up to $10,000 and/or prohibition of shipping any of your delicious wine.

Yikes.

Now that shipping wine is cool, all state legislators have to do is allow for a late night bar and restaurant scene in Boston, give the city 150 new liquor licenses over a three year span and vest liquor licensing power to the municipal government.

Mayor Walsh and his administration have tried tirelessly as of late to make these three facets of late-night Boston come into fruition but he has yet to receive the necessary support of Beacon Hill brass. City Hall hasn’t given up yet, though. A committee has been formed to consider the 150 new liquor license aspect, included in the Senate’s recently passed economic development package, and they’ll be making a ruling on that by the end of the month.

Image via Jesus Cervantes/Shutterstock