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Winery owners and neighbors press Napa County for clarity on trade tastings and visitation rules
Summary
Dozens of winery owners, vintners and neighbors urged the Napa County Board of Supervisors on March 25 to clarify whether visits by sommeliers and distributors — commonly called "trade tastings" — require county use permits, saying current uncertainty and selective enforcement are penalizing small, family-run producers.
Dozens of winery owners, vintners and neighbors told the Napa County Board of Supervisors on March 25 that the county’s treatment of trade tastings and visitation limits is confusing, inconsistently enforced and harming small producers.
Supporters of trade tastings said those visits are business meetings — not tourism — and are essential for small wineries that rely on trade relationships to sell their products. Stuart Smith, founder of Smith Madrone winery (speaking in public comment), said the county’s rules and enforcement have made operating a small winery difficult: “Many of my friends have been waiting over 6 years to get a use permit from the county, and that is really just unacceptable.”
Why it matters: Trade tastings affect how small, often family-run, wineries market and sell wine. Commenters said the county’s current approach — including an interpretation that…
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