The article below appeared
in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on September 27:
By Mark Schlinkmann
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/27/2006
The county's burgeoning winery operations will be growing
again.
Two new wineries, one west of Defiance and the other outside
Augusta, have gotten the go-ahead from the St. Charles County
Council.
Chandler Hill Vineyards, planned for a site along Defiance
Road west of Howell Road, expects to open a tasting room
next fall.
The facility was approved Monday night over the objections
of some nearby residents who fear additional traffic congestion
on narrow roads in their area. "This becomes an issue
of public safety," said one resident,
Jodi Howell.
However, Councilman Joe Brazil, whose 2nd District includes
the site, said a winery is preferable to a subdivision that
could eventually be proposed there.
"I would rather see grapes and agricultural use of
the ground than have it developed" with homes, he said.
The other operation approved Monday, at Highway 94 and Hemsath
Road west of Augusta, expects to open a tasting room in 2008.
A bed and breakfast also is planned at the site, Noboleis
Vineyards.
Noboleis' owners began planting grapes last year.
Chandler Hill initially will sell only wine produced elsewhere,
mostly at other St. Charles County sites. However, planting
at the site will begin next spring, said one of the owners,
John Shillington. He said production of wine from grapes
raised elsewhere will start by the time the tasting room
opens. Eventually the wine will be from the site itself.
Wayne Anthony, the county community development director,
said that allows the facility to comply with county rules
requiring a winery to actually produce wine - not just operate
a wine bar.
To comply, the legislation allowing the facility was amended
Monday night to stipulate that the quantity of wine consumed
by or sold to customers in any year cannot exceed twice the
amount under production.
Since July, the council had held up approval because the
original measure could have allowed the tasting room to open
with no production under way.
The new wineries will join five operating in the Augusta
area.
Article © 2006, the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. All rights reserved.
Originally published on STLToday.com
|
