Wine or Weddings?

Most of us have never really given much thought to winery zoning and all that these regulations entail.  We visit a winery to taste wine or to attend an event  and we enjoy the uniqueness of the winery setting often as much as we enjoy the uniqueness of the wines. But for some, the consideration of what constitutes wine related business and farm use and how different wineries are adhering to the zoning laws has weighed heavily on their minds.

It seems there has been much confusion within the winery industry over what types of events Oregon wineries are legally allowed to host and what percentage of a winery’s revenue can come from non wine events such as weddings and parties. So last week the Oregon legislature passed the bill 1055 which will bring uniformity to a patchwork of local and state regulations spelling out what events are allowed at wineries and how much nonwine sales are permitted. 

Over the years farm and environmental groups  have expressed concern that events such as weddings and concerts were not part of exclusive farm-use zoning.  The worry was that as the wine industry grows and the popularity of the winery setting as a venue for all sorts of different gatherings - many unrelated to winemaking or grape growing -would quickly begin to erode the specific intent of exclusive-farm-use zoning.

In working on the bill, wine growers said they wanted to preserve the time-honored nature of rural vineyards and wineries and prevent them from becoming event centers, yet also provide opportunities for creating a sustainable bottom line.

All three interests — agriculture, environmental and wine growers — had  a say in crafting the bill which defines "incidental activity" at wineries as private events that promote the sale of its wines. It also limits sales of catered food and nonwine items to 25 percent of on-site retail wine sales.

I think it is a good thing to have clarification on the subject and it sounds like the bill was a darn good compromise between all those with an interest in the outcome.  No doubt there will be wineries who will take issue with the restrictions.  Some of the bigger, more commercial and corporate owned wineries who depend heavily on the revenue generated from events but are not zoned for commercial/tourism,  will certainly have to make changes. But for those vintners who are truly committed to the craft and art of winemaking this will have little to no affect.  Especially here in the Umpqua Valley where our family owned wineries devote their time to the production of quality wine and not to the production of…productions!  Here in our magical world of the small winery and the hands on winemaker, wine life continues on just as before.  And we like it that way!