Cal. Business and Professions Code § 23017

“Importer” means: (a) Any consignee of alcoholic beverages brought into this State from without this State, when the alcoholic beverages are for delivery or use within this State. (b) Any person, except a public warehouse licensed under this division, to whom delivery is first made in this State of alcoholic beverages brought into this State from without this State for delivery or use within this State. (c) Any person, licensed as an importer, selling alcoholic beverages to nonlicensees within an area over which the United States Government exercises jurisdiction, when delivery of the alcoholic beverages is made to the nonlicensees by a common carrier transporting the alcoholic beverages from a point outside this State. (d) Any person bringing alcoholic beverages into this State from without this State which are not consigned to any person and which are for delivery or use within this State. A person licensed as a customs broker who is acting as an agent for a licensed importer or for another person whose place of business is without the State shall not be deemed to be the importer of alcoholic beverages consigned in United States internal revenue bond or in United States customs bond to the licensed customs broker.