Supervisors seek to promote wine production in county

San Diego County now has two Federally-designated American Viticultural Areas, and the county government will be exploring options which would enable small boutique wineries to expand and operate successfully in the unincorporated areas over which the county has land use jurisdiction.

A 5-0 Board of Supervisors vote October 18 directed the county’s Chief Administrative Officer to work with the San Diego County Farm Bureau, the Ramona Valley Winery Association, and any other interested winery owners to investigate options which would allow small wineries to expand and operate by right without burdensome regulations such as a major use permit. The original motion was amended to add the possibility of signage to identify local wine-producing areas, and the Chief Administrative Officer was directed to report back to the supervisors within 120 days.

“I look forward to the recommendations that staff will be bringing back after working with these folks,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

On January 6 the U.S. Taxation and Trade Bureau designated the Ramona Valley as an American Viticultural Area, meaning that if at least 85 percent of the grapes were grown in Ramona the bottle can be given a Ramona Valley appellation on the label. The American Viticulture Area designation was the 162nd in the nation since Federal law created the process in 1980 and was the third in Southern California, following the 1981 designation of San Pasqual Valley and the 1986 approval of the Temecula Valley appellation.

The Ramona Valley designation which recognized the area’s distinct microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes covered an 89,000 acre area surrounding Ramona. More than 60 of those acres were in production by 20 commercial vineyards, nine of whom operated bonded wineries including two with tasting rooms.

“This is a great honor for Ramona. This identifies Ramona as a distinguished grape-growing region,” said Jacob, whose district includes Ramona.

The designation also caused winery owners and community residents to express a desire of exploring options which would allow successful operation and expansion of small boutique wineries. “San Diego County has a lot of wineries, and I think it’s a well-kept secret, unfortunately,” said Supervisor Bill Horn.

The San Diego County Vintners Association lists seven wineries in addition to the Ramona vineyards.

“The County of San Diego does not yet have a system in place that encourages the development of the wine industry,” Jacob said. “San Diego seeks to emulate other counties.”

Those other counties have eliminated burdensome regulations on small wineries. “I think the county should be encouraging these wineries, not restricting them,” Horn said. “If the farmers are growing grapes they should be able to produce and sell their own wine.”

Edwards Vineyard and Cellars has been growing grapes for more than a decade. “I think it’s needed,” said Vic Edwards, who, along with his wife, owns Edwards Vineyard and Cellars. “We can make some very nice wines. It would be nice to do it and sell it without the restrictions of a major use permit.”

Beth Edwards noted that promoting the local wine industry would also promote agritourism. “It would be nice to keep the tourists here,” she said. “I was just happy to see that they’re in agreeance with us.”