New State Law Allows Wineries to Cater, Serve Liquor
Newsday is reporting this morning that:
"In a change that could bring even more millions of dollars to the East
End’s tourist economy, a new state law now allows wineries to cater
weddings and other events while keeping tasting rooms and wine sales
operating.The State Liquor Authority has discouraged such activities, arguing
that outside caterers who serve hard liquor at parties have a special
one-day license, and that two licenses cannot be used simultaneously at
the same vineyard. That has meant that wine tasting rooms had to close
whenever a catered event was held - the very time vintners get a big
crowd and a chance to show off their wines."
This is great news for Long Island wineries (and wineries in other regions of New York too). Anything that brings more money to wineries is a good thing in my mind. It means that wineries can become profitable more quickly (or be more profitable), which will help keep them running. Successful wineries mean fewer closing and being replaced by condos and other less-beautiful real estate. This could be a real big wine for agriculture.
Of course, there are detractors too:
"However, the change is not welcomed by everyone. The new law angered
several local caterers who say vineyards already have big advantages -
including a farmland preservation program that reduces their taxes if
they sell off development rights - and that their big summer parties
skim off some of the season’s most profitable events."In the
last few years, they [vineyards] have evolved as a player in the
wedding market, particularly on the North Fork," said Diane Figari,
director of operations for East Wind Caterers Inn and Spa in Wading
River, adding that making it easier for wineries to host events would
hurt many local caterers. "People from Hauppauge on out will probably
be affected."
I’ve been to East Wind for a couple different events, including the wedding of some very good friends. It’s a great place with good-for-catering food. But, they can’t compete with the beauty or setting of a winery. And it is also extremely expensive there. They’ll have to find other ways to compete with the wineries. Competition is a good thing. This is America, right?
Wineries produce and sell wine. That is what we do at Paumanok and we are happy to stick with that. We have no music as we do not need to create a carnival atmosphere to bring attention to our wines. Similarly we do not need liquor to sell our wine. We feel in fact it says something about a wine if music and liquor are needed to help move a product.
It is true that weddings at wineries have become popular and we rent our wineries for such events as well. Yet we have had no difficulty renting our grounds while liquor was not allowed. We married 2 of our sons this year and at both weddings we had wine and beer and non alcoholic drinks and we had a wonderful time.
Having said that I welcome the move by the NYS SLA, not so much for what it might do for our business, but because I think we are way over regulated. So anytime there is an opening that expands what adults can do in their free time I welcome it. But as a wine producer I wish to keep my distance from hard liquor as it devalues, in my eyes, the wine that I produce.