When traveling to hundreds of wineries one experiences the concerns, challenges and frustrations that owners of wineries have. When talking to owners it becomes clear that government causes most of these frustrations. I read an email today from an Ohio winery owner who is concerned with the states attempt to collect additional fees from wineries and also pass rules that make no sense. Sounds like government. Recently Kathy and I attended a zoning board meeting (local government). Part of the petition was to limit the hours of operation to 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. As written, winemakers couldn’t make wine or vineyardists work in the vineyard outside of those hours. People who have no idea of the business often write the rules and regulations. Also people who stand to profit (distributors) fund the politicians who make rules and regulations. In the case of the zoning board, they are going to change the language to include the public visiting the winery not the workers.

At some point winery owners will simple move out of a state. With the move, the state loses the agri-tourism dollars the winery was bringing to the state. If an owner is that frustrated, what state should they move to? The states that we have heard fewer complaints about government interference were Texas and Colorado. We have heard many concerns about distribution in Virginia, however, they now have a pro winery governor and we’ll have to see if the growing wine industry in that state continues to grow.

In terms of government causing frustration, which is the best state in the country to have a winery? What do you think?

Cheers,

Terry