San Diego County wineries can now host live music after the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance change allowing performances at vineyards, including those in Ramona.
The decision is welcomed by local winery owners who say the added entertainment could help revive business after several challenging years.
Sue Robinson, owner of Correcaminos Vineyard in Ramona, said she feels “Relieved. It’s great. It’s wonderful that we got this through.”
Robinson said the approval followed extensive effort from winery owners and local organizations.
“It was a lot of work, a lot of volunteer hours from us and the Farm Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce,” Robinson said.
The ordinance comes at a critical time for the wine industry, Robinson said, as many wineries have seen declining sales.
“Big, big, big asset for us at this point. Winery businesses have all been down a little bit in the last couple of years,” Robinson said. “for two years we were declining like 6% a year. And last year we finally broke even… And this year we’re starting to climb back up out of that hole,”
Robinson pointed to Dry January, health concerns and changing drinking habits among younger generations as factors affecting the industry.
“The traditional wine drinkers are aging out and we’ve got to get the new generation trained to come in and drink wine with us,” Robinson said.
Under the new ordinance, wineries must still follow specific guidelines. Robinson said she plans to apply for an entertainment license and comply with the rules.
“So we can’t play into the evening late hours like a bar could. Or a private party for that matter. And then the distances they’ve set up right now is it must be 200ft from your property line,” Robinson said.
Robinson acknowledged there was some pushback from what she described as a minority of residents, but she believes the decision is positive for wine makers in Ramona and across San Diego County.
“I’m really happy that we’re ahead of the game this year,” Robinson said.
To stay updated on upcoming live music presentations, click here to check dozens of wineries through the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association’s website.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.