Advertisement

New rules allow importing bulk wine

Share

When adopting amendments to the county’s Tiered Winery Ordinance by a unanimous vote April 27, the Board of Supervisors chose the Planning Commission’s recommendation to allow boutique wineries to import 25 percent bulk wine from outside the county.

It was a provision that many Ramona winery owners pushed for, but it was not in the staff’s recommendation to the supervisors.

The ordinance, adopted in August 2010, only allowed boutique wineries to import a limited amount of fruit from outside the county. In draft amendments Planning and Development (PDS) staff and commissioners agreed to add the sourcing of grape juice but staff did not recommend importing bulk wine.

Joe Farace, group program manager for PDS advance planning, said staff was careful with changes to make sure they did not trigger the need for another environmental impact report.

Planning Commissioner Bryan Woods, who represents Ramona on the commission’s District 2 seat, said he had been involved with the winery ordinance from the start and gave his reasons for allowing 25 percent imported bulk wine.

Among those were: it takes up to six years for vineyards to mature, sourcing is a common need, the region produces more red than white wine, and bulk wine can be used for blending. The provision could be revisited when the region is more mature, he said.

“We did not intend to import bottled wine called shiners,” he noted.

When Supervisor Dianne Jacob asked how they could better clarify in the amendments that imported bottled wine was prohibited, Farace suggested stating “non-bottled bulk wine.”

Of the 10 people who addressed the board, one was Bill Schweitzer, owner of Paccielo Vineyard in Ramona, who provided a picture why he preferred importing wine over grapes. Schweitzer said a winemaker could have a contract with a vineyard owner in Lodi to buy 1,000 pounds of grapes, and in the middle of harvest season get a call saying the fruit is ready the next day and to pick it up.

“They pick up the fruit in their pickup truck, whether it’s good or bad...They put it in their truck and they drive down the Central Valley at 120 degrees with the grapes jostling in the truck and suddenly you have a bunch of grapes down at the bottom of the bin which is starting to ferment in the absolute worst possible conditions, ruining the quality of what might have come out of the vineyard in the first place. Then you get to Ramona...now you’ve got waste material from outside the county, probably got bugs we don’t have here,” he said.

Other amendments to the ordinance included extending the closing hour of operation for Nov. 1 to March 1 from sunset to 6 p.m.; and allowing a food truck at a boutique winery, 15-passenger vehicles, and off-site vineyards with an administrative permit. The amendments also clarify the sizes for tasting/sales areas and production facilities, and what is allowed for public events.

Jacob said there are over 100 wineries in the region and over 30 in Ramona.

“We’ve uncorked this industry and it has flourished,” she said. Jacob added that the amendments should allow winery owners some flexibility.

Board chair Ron Roberts said he likes to see success.

“I think the key here is for government not to get in the way,” he said.

Advertisement

At a time when local news is more important than ever, support from our readers is essential. If you are able to, please support the Ramona Sentinel today.