The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear cases on Tuesday on whether small California wineries, such as the Agua Dulce Vineyards north of Santa Clarita, can sell their products to the national market over the Internet, a practice that is banned in several states.

"California wineries, particularly smaller family-run operations, should be able to ship their product directly to customers in all states," said K. Lloyd Billingsley, editorial director of the Pacific Research Institute and author of the new report "Wine Wars: Defending E-Commerce and Direct Shipment in the National Wine Market."

"Twenty-four states prohibit direct shipments of wine," he said. "The trend is toward direct shipping and the high court should recognize that current reciprocity arrangements could simply be extended to all states."

The Supreme Court has taken up the issue after federal appellate courts have rendered split decisions on it, Billingsley said.

"This is clearly an issue of protectionism, at odds with the Commerce Clause of the Constitution," he said. "The high court has an historic chance to end the legacy of Prohibition and rule in favor of direct shipping. It should not be a felony, as it is in some states, to buy a bottle of premium wine and ship it to your own home."