Distinguish between winery, tavern

My wife and I have visited many wineries and we have enjoyed them. On these Wine tasting visits it was always very clear I was not in a tavern. For one thing the quantities were just a taste, and usually limited to 4-6 ounces per day.

In the new proposed ordinance for McHenry County, the wine will be sold by the glass in unlimited quantities. To make it more interesting, you can buy fortified wines — wine fortified with spirits to develop a 80-proof product. How does this differ from a tavern?

You might say, it’s the hours of operation. But 6 a.m. to 2 a. m? No — that’s the same as a tavern.

The proposed ordinance will not consider zoning. The process will be handled by a Conditional Use Zoning Petition, needing only 13 votes from the McHenry County Board, and it may be located anywhere outside of municipalities in the county. How does Production of 250,000 bottles of wine differ from pickle or milk production?

Farmers have always realized that they have to bring their crop to Industrial Zones for commercial processing.

Many people refer to this as “Spot Zoning” — not in compliance with the intent of our recently adopted 2030 Plan.

Maybe it is a winery and not a tavern because it is agri-tourism, with no local produce required,

I don’t understand how this is agri-tourism.

The new ordinance allows the sale of fortified wine by glass and 50,000 gallons of wine production, which would include the construction of a bottling plant.

Once the ordinance is crafted, it will set the maximum allowed by law and that is why we have asked the hard questions. We need to protect the “pursuit of happiness” for all the residents.

John Hammerand, Chairman McHenry County Liquor & License Committee

Wonder Lake