6. Deep Roots Winery staff report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: February 5, 2020
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk
Re: Deep Roots Winery
Issue: Does the City need to amend its existing liquor ordinance to permit Deep Roots Winery
to operate a tasting room and conduct sales of liquor products both manufactured on and off
the premises?
Background: The Commissioner of Public Safety has authority to issue a farm winery license to
the operator of a farm winery located within the state and producing table, sparkling, or
fortified wines. This state license authorizes the sale, on the farm winery premises, of the
wines produced by that farm winery at on-sale or off-sale, in retail, or wholesale lots. Farm
winery total production cannot exceed 75,000 gallons annually.
If the winery wishes to include sales of alcohol products not produced on the premises, the
owners must apply for a separate on-sale/off-sale combination liquor license with the City.
Scandia’s ordinance allows the City to issue up to the number of on-sale liquor licenses allowed
by state law. In cities of the fourth class, not more than seven licenses; currently there are
three on-sale liquor establishments in Scandia (Brookside Pub, Meister’s, and the Scandia
Creamery).
Conclusion: No changes to the City’s existing liquor ordinance need to be made for the
proposed winery to operate a tasting room or conduct sales of alcohol products manufactured
on or off the premises. In the future, if the Council desires to permit brewpubs, taprooms, or
micro distilleries, these kinds of liquor licenses would need to be added to the city’s liquor
ordinance via amendments.