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SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: W at 4 mph Sunday, September 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 8, 2003 Renee Dobbes is silhouetted against hills near Talent as she stands in the Paschal Winery tasting room. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell State guidelines hamper local wineries Rules bar promotions that don’t involve wine events By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County winery operators say state rules that restrict their ability to promote events could nip the industry in the bud. Paschal Winery and Vineyards, which opened almost two years ago, has canceled events because rules prohibit the promotion of events that aren’t primarily wine-related. Renee Dobbes, manager of the Talent winery, said state regulations could have a chilling effect on the local wine industry, particularly on new wineries. "It is sort of crippling; we need to have as many tools as possible to draw people here," she said. "It’s handicapping our industry and if Jackson County really wants to keep its farmland and keep its economy going, there need to be better tools to keep our industry going." Advertisement Advertisements, she has found, must be carefully drafted so that wine tasting is the main item featured, and events such as a Valentine’s Day party or musical entertainment are listed secondarily. Most wineries in Jackson County fall under the same restrictive zoning as Paschal Winery, but the regulations don’t apply to wineries that existed before rules were created in the 1980’s and ’90’s. With her company hobbled by the constraints, Dobbes said the regulations would be a problem for any new wineries contemplating setting up shop in the county. " Any wineries that do their homework are going to run like hell the other way." she said. Ali Turiel, county planning manager, said most wineries in Jackson County are zoned exclusive farm use, which carries with it the most restrictive regulations mandated by the state. Wineries that fall under the EFU zoning find they are restricted in the kind of food they can offer — pre-packaged for the most part — and how they market their businesses, she said. Advertisements that promote wine tasting are allowed, but advertisements that primarily promote concerts, art festivals or other events are not, she said "You can sell the wine, but you can’t go out and market the event in order to sell the wine," said Turiel, who agreed the state regulations seem overly restrictive. Turiel said the county is exploring how other wineries in other counties have avoided the pitfalls of the zoning by either interpreting the law differently or applying a different zoning. Jackson County Administrator Sue Slack said the county supports niche agriculture and doesn’t want to thwart promotional activities that benefit wineries. However, defining what constitutes an event that promotes the drinking of wine and what doesn’t is often tricky, given the current regulations, she said. Phil Kodak, owner of Ashland Vineyards, said the regulations are just part of the problem for Oregon’s wine industry. "The state has archaic and restrictive laws that prevent businesses from surviving in the state of Oregon," he said. Anne Root, manager of Eden Valley Orchards, said she went through a two-year process to get the permits necessary to hold weddings, concerts and other events. ‘I know what I’ve done, and I’ve been very exhaustive in the permitting process," she said. But Root said she doesn’t see that process as something that will hinder the area’s growing wine industry. It just means that new wineries will just have to go through the same bureaucratic hurdles she did. John Weisinger, secretary for the Southern Oregon Wine Association, said there has been a lot of confusion about how to apply the land-use regulations among counties in Oregon. After a meeting with county officials last week, Weisinger said he was encouraged that a solution would be found to make life easier for an industry that generates $3 million to $6 million annually in Jackson County. "There is a real need for greater definition of what is a wine-related event," he said. "Everything you do is promotional for a winery." On the other hand, he said, counties want to avoid situations where wineries turn into restaurants. "We’re really are an infantile agency and we’re writing the book as we go," said Weisinger. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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