Keeper of the Napa Valley Spirit-The Winery Definition Ordinance
The ordinance that regulates winery events and tasting activity in Napa is called the Winery Definition Ordinance (WDO) and originated in 1990. This ordinance gives wineries the authority to host events and pair wine with food as part of a wine marketing, education, etc. event. But the rules state that wineries may host functions only if they can show they’re directly tied to the marketing of their wines. The second issue addressed in the WDO is: “Tasting By Appointment Only”.
We will address these two issues separately in the context of small luxury meetings in Wine Country.
Many people ask why some wineries in Napa have signage that says, “Tasting By Appointment Only”. This is part of the WDO mentioned above and pertains to winery tastings at wineries that came into existence after 1990. But, not to worry; let me explain.
Because Symtrek Partners focuses on small (approximately 25 and fewer participants) luxury meetings in Wine Country, we are not impacted by the “By Appointment Only” restrictions. With constraints on time inherent in business meetings, visits to wineries must be scheduled anyway, i.e. By Appointment Only. Further, no luxury meeting participant wants to compete with “open to the public” tasting room guest that arrive by tour buses. Other wineries, existing prior to 1990, are grandfathered to have public tasting rooms.
What about having an event at a winery? Wineries are specifically prohibited from hosting weddings, wedding parties, anniversary events or any parties that aren’t considered directly linked to the marketing of wine. Again, small corporate events of say 25 or fewer people would most likely not be impacted by this restriction. Especially, as wine would be a central theme of the meeting at a winery. So, go ahead and explore small wine cave dinners.
You are probably still asking what is the logic of the WDO? Napa County’s WDO limits commercial activities in Napa County’s agricultural areas by ensuring that wineries focus almost entirely on the production of wine. The County does not want to build a commercial industry that puts agriculture/wineries in a support role. This is a double edge sword. But, if you are wanting a small luxury meeting with an agricultural ambiance and remoteness only Wine Country offers, the WDO ensures a rural feel well into the future.
As an aside, in 1968 the floor of Napa Valley, all 38,000 acres, was designated as an Agricultural Preserve and is the only such designation in the US today. The mountains and hills around the Napa Valley floor have been designated as an Agricultural Watershed. The watershed designation encompasses more than 100,000 acres.
Cheers!