SVCAC supports tasting room in Poppe Building
At it’s meeting of June 23, the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC) unanimously supported a use permit application for a tasting room in the Poppe Building in downtown Glen Ellen.
Audelssa Estate Winery has applied to Sonoma County for a use permit to operate a 1,600 square foot wine tasting room at 13750 Arnold Drive. The tasting room had been operating just up the street on Arnold Drive since 2006. The current site in the Poppe Building has been vacant for the past two years.
The tasting room would not have a commercial kitchen, but would offer pre-prepared food.
Commissioners questioned Audelssa representatives about the closing hours of the tasting room, which would be 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Sundays at 5 p.m.
Most tasting rooms in Sonoma County close around 5 p.m.
Glen Ellen resident Mark Brewer, principal owner of Audelssa, said the hours are consistent with what the State of California allows.
SVCAC commissioners concluded that since the location is in downtown Glen Ellen in a commercial zone, staying open until 7 or 8 p.m. was not a problem.
SVCAC commissioner Gary Baker said the tasting room is compatible with other uses in the area and would help attract more customers for Glen Ellen businesses.
“It’s win-win all the way around,” said Baker.
