Napa County officials are taking their first stab at defining how a new state law that opens up tasting experiences directly in vineyards will work in the Napa Valley.
The supervisors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposed pilot program, which would run from Jan. 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027 while county staff work to figure out permanent rules.
The pilot program would give the county a means of implementing Assembly Bill 720, which allows wineries to host small “estate tasting events” at vineyard sites with only a permit from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control when it becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Supporters say the intent of the law is to bring visitors closer to the farming and production side of the wine industry, allowing for a potential revival of wine tourism amid a decline in sales and visitation. But the law places implementation in county hands, giving broad discretion for counties to determine how the vineyard tasting experiences happen.
Supervisors on Nov. 18 signaled support for a two-step process, involving simple, uniform rules to meet the deadline at first, then refining the policy with data and feedback from the wine industry, residents and regulators.
The supervisors on Tuesday will vote on Napa County’s initial broad set of proposed parameters, which include:
- Vineyard visit events could occur up to 36 days per year.
- No more than 49 people would be allowed per event, including staff and guests.
- There must be fewer than 40 Average Daily Trips to and from the area. That makes it so the county can continue defining roads used for those trips as agricultural roads, a standard intended for “low-volume agricultural operations with limited public access,” according to the parameters.
- The roads must maintain emergency access, including a minimum 14-foot clear width and required turnouts.
- The events are limited to stops along those roads, along with outdoor education, and can’t use structures.
The county’s proposed rules are an evolution of rules discussed by the supervisors Nov. 18, which included visitor caps of 15 per event and required wineries to transport guests themselves.
Those seeking to hold the vineyard tastings would also need to apply to the Napa County Fire Marshal’s Office for a local permit annually with a copy of a valid Alcohol Beverage Control license, an aerial site map and an agreement to comply with fire and life safety requirements. That application would cost $343 for review, processing and safety evaluations, according to the parameters.