I love events like the Chardonnay Symposium and Vintners’ Festival. Sadly, a small (but active and organized) group of valley residents called the Valley Alliance wants to stop events like these from happening. This post is a bit out of the ordinary, but please bear with me as I explain how the wonderful wine country culture of Santa Barbara county is being threatened and what you can do to protect it – sign the Winery Petition!
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is conducting a review of the 2004 Winery Ordinance. This review is being pushed by the Valley Alliance. The Valley Alliance wants to restrict winery operations. In their newsletter, the Valley Alliance listed some of their proposals to restrict winery operations:
“ The number of allowed charitable events must be capped”
“Food service … finger food… permitted…a ‘meal’ would not be permissible”
“ No parties for profit allowed, period.”
To support their position the Valley Alliance has a petition signed by 300 Santa Barbara county Residents- mostly from the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley. We believe the Valley Alliance is a vocal minority and their extreme views are out of the mainstream. However, unless the silent majority expresses itself the only position the County Board of supervisors will hear is the Valley Alliance’s extreme views.
If you agree with me, PLEASE download and sign the Winery Petition and email it or fax it or mail it to Steve Pepe (contact info is on the footer of the petition). If you are so inclined, please ask your friends and family to sign the petition as well. Thank you!
