Don't pull the rug out from under wineries

Our Opinion

Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

With the tobacco buyout in 1999, just about every tobacco farmer in the region was left looking for different ways to make use of their knowledge of farming. Since then, we have seen an influx of corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides — all part of a segment of farming known as "agritourism." This initiative has its good points — like more cash flowing in; and its bad points — like higher insurance premiums and higher overhead.

Some farmers are trying to grow grain, but some grain is not well suited for our soil.

And many farmers are investing a good amount of money and time into grapes.

Grapevines take a huge amount of care. They must be pruned just right, sprayed to keep away mildew and the attacks of Japanese beetles. It takes years of growing the vines before the first crop is useful, and then the crops are mostly harvested by hand.

The state has supplied help, though, through initiatives to educate current and potential grape farmers on how to sustain the crop.

More help has come in the form of grants — close to $400,000 between 2005 and 2008. Those grants have gone to research, promotion and expansion of vineyards and wineries. About $65,000 has gone to help 27 grape growers buy vines. Free advice is being given by a viticulture expert and plant pathologist at the University of Maryland, also paid for by state grant money.

From all of this grape growing, another industry has grown along with it — wineries.

Farmers are happy to see that industry grow, because it means they can use local wineries to sell their grapes, instead of shipping them to other parts of the country. In St. Mary's County, growers are working on creating a business plan and raising money so they can get a $50,000 grant from the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corp.

With the money they raise, the state grant and an additional $496,000 of county government funds, the farmers hope to start a cooperative winery in Leonardtown, making use of a former Maryland State Highway Administration building.

But here in Calvert, there seems to be a different take on the value of these businesses. In the latest proposed changes to the zoning code, there is a change to the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance that calls for a 200-foot property buffer around winery buildings.

There are already several established wineries in Calvert, and they are making more wine than they have grapes to ferment. These wineries are a part of the county's tourism industry, and are subject to the same ups and downs of every type of business in our struggling economy.

Friday's Creek Winery, Solomons Island Winery, Cove Point Winery, Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery: All are supporting local grape farmers and have been for a number of years. These businesses offer a venue for wine-tastings, social events and shopping.

They are not bars. They do not require a cadre of police at their events. So why is a 200-foot buffer necessary?

During the Nov. 25 commissioners' meeting, when this change was discussed and then deferred, not a single commissioner spoke in favor of it.

So why is it even a proposed text amendment?

Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D) had it right: "We try to encourage these farming communities and then we turn around and chop them off at the knees."

If such an amendment is eventually considered necessary, and there is valid justification for it, the current wineries must be left alone.

Their businesses mean too much to too many people — both residents and farmers — and forcing an amendment at this point would be irresponsible and detrimental to Southern Maryland.