Lawmakers considered yesterday a bill that would allow for direct shipments of wine to state residents, an issue that has pitted wine aficionados against liquor store owners for several years in the General Assembly.

Wineries and wine lovers say the current prohibition on direct-to-consumer shipments is outmoded and prevents residents from joining "wine of the month" clubs and from asking a winery in Napa Valley or elsewhere to ship home a favorite bottle. (They also note that increased airline security prevents passengers from carrying bottles on planes, making shipping necessary.) A grass-roots coalition called Free the Grapes has launched an e-mail campaign to lobby for the bill.

Opponents argue that direct shipments of wine would hurt sales at liquor stores and bypass all of the regulations that apply to them, including those to prevent sales to minors. An exception for wine over other kinds of liquor would not make sense, said Bruce C. Bereano, a lobbyist for the Licensed Beverage Distributors of Maryland.

"What is so sacrosanct about wine?" Bereano said. "You can get drunk on a bottle of wine just as easily as scotch or vodka."

The proposed legislation, heard by the House Economic Matters Committee, would require wine shipments to be conspicuously labeled as alcohol and would require the signature of someone at least 21 years old for delivery. More than 35 states and the District of Columbia authorize direct shipment of wine to consumers, including Virginia and West Virginia, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.