BUFFALO, N.Y. — If you walk into a local liquor store, you'll often find dozens, or even hundreds, of wine options to choose from. 

New York Sen. George Borrello says the competitive environment can make it difficult for local products to stand out.

"Grape growers and New York wineries have always struggled to break into the market because of the big boys; the two buck chuck out of Australia or California," Borrello said.

He is proposing a way for New York's grape industry to get a competitive advantage by allowing grocery stores to sell only wine made in the state or from local grapes.

"This will be a new opportunity, a new profit center for grocery stores and certainly a new opportunity for wineries," Borrello said.

Lawmakers have discussed allowing grocery stores to sell wine for more than a decade, but liquor stores have pushed back, suggesting it could be a critical blow to their operations.

"I'm hoping that this is a good compromise, a good middle ground so we can give consumers the ability to buy wine in grocery stores and the convenience of this while also supporting what is largely local small businesses here in New York state," Borrello said.

Representatives for the state's liquor stores and the wine industry declined to comment Tuesday on the just-introduced bill. Both have suggested the proposal may not be legal under federal interstate commerce rules, however, states like Maine already sell wine in grocery stores.

Borrello said the legislation is at least an opportunity to spur more conversation about alternatives.

"I'm hoping to introduce this to finally find a common sense middle ground so we can provide consumers with what they want without damaging the thousands of small businesses across New York state that are already strained by so many things that happen here in Albany," he said.

Borrello said he also plans to introduce a complementary bill that would allow liquor stores to sell items like cheese and crackers to better compete with grocery stores.