Which is how you know there is government oversight. The BID has no legal authority to assess or enforce.
-Al
The law defines how the money must be spent: to provide a specific benefit directly to each payor in the district that is not provided to those not paying the assessment.
What Iâm curious about is the effect of the âownersâ associationâ accepting district funds then commingling those funds with other income that has different spending criteria? Because our ownersâ association has put in writing that thatâs what it will do.
In the case of the SBC Vintnerâs Association, the proceeds for the BID make up the entirety of the budget - other than sponsorships and business memberships - and those funds, albeit minor, will go into specific spending categories.
Iâm not sure this is what Sonoma is planning or not - and if not, it can get a bit âtrickyâ . . .
Cheers
A piece I published this morning studying WIDs in the only areas where they have been in existence long enough to have results. MORE IMPORTANTLY - announcing an email to gather new ideas for promoting Sonoma County wine and a ZOOM to discuss these ideas. Iâd welcome all Sonoma County wineries and grape growers to join.
Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company
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Looks like the Santa Cruz Mountain AVA is moving ahead with their BID, with it being approved by the Board of Supervisors last week. You can see in this artilce how the estimated budget will be allocated:
And I know that Lodi is trying to push forward as well.
I think both of these areas are very different than Sonoma - geographically and recognition/awareness wise
Cheers
Remarkable to me how Rob mentions the success of Livermore and that is judged by raising more money - not by any increase in DTC sales.
Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company
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Yep, I saw that - though it might be good to check with individual wineries within the region to sed how they truly feel about it.
Their region is SO different than Sonoma - much more isolated, less prown to have âwine tourismâ etc, and their budget is already tiny.
Not sure if you saw that the Monterey Wine Association is folding up? Tough times out there for sure
Cheers
Oh, I have talked to individual wineries in Santa Cruz. Many are in favor, and a few are opposed.
But what they all want is one thing - an increase in DTC sales (actually any sales) attributable to the WID.
And I only want one thing - to have someone show me one place where a WID has brought about an increase in sales. Nobody has or seemingly can.
I did see the Monterey Wine Association was closing. I wasnât involved with them - as they were much more of a political lobbying organization and the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans is doing such a superb job.
Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company
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Thanks for the reply - and I hear you. The concept of BIDS are to increase DTC sales but it will not happen overnight - and it may take a year or two to see real trends appearing . . . and thatâs only if the general economic conditions for wine and wine tasting, etc donât continue to âgo downhillâ as they seem to be.
As I said above, Sonoma is in a very different position re ârecognition in the marketâ compared to many other regions that are exploring BIDS. I donât see Napa doing so for they donât need to. And for Sonoma, it only makes sense if there is a clearer understanding of how the money will be spent - and ensuring that those with have a stake have a strong vote as to how that will occur
Cheers
Looks like the SCM BID will need to go before other boards, since it covers wineries in three counties.
-Al
I wonder if Santa Cruz County will exclude agricultural and residential zoning from their wine district as it did with their Tourism District?
Our County just formed wine district and tourism district, HDLâs contract was just signed with the county to collect the tourism assessments (all the same laws as the wine district). The management district plan says first yearâs budget is $200,000. and âa third party collection agency shall be paid a fee equal to 3% of the amount collectedâŚâ
Well, the contract with HDL is more than double. 1. $12,000. the first year. 2. Every Jan 1, the CPI is added for next yearâs fee. 3. Plus fees for travel, lodging expenses (applies to all meetings and training). 4. Plus fees for discovery services, 40% of what is collected as a result. 5. Collection fees, 25% of what is collected, 6. If the county waives any debts, a 50% fee of what would have been collected.
Which county are you talking about and are we still talking a Wine Bid here or something else?
Cheers
Terri,
At the July meeting in Amador they announced, âWine Heritage
Update on the ACWHD 1st quarter payment status, noting 24 unpaid wineries and 54 paid wineries, totaling 77
wineries.
Collection fees with HDL, noting that they will not charge a 25% collection fee until further notice.â
So, obviously there is a collection fee normally. Did it get changed at the August meeting so they are charging that?
Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company
I see now - talking about Amador County. And the âcollection feeâ seems to make some sense - they will need to go after those wineries that are not âabiding byâ the BID. Not sure if those fees are in place here but my guess is that they probably are?
Cheers
Howâs Santa Barbara doing with wineries paying in? I think Amador County instituted their WID around the same time - it would be interesting to compare. I havenât seen any public minutes of the Santa Barbara organizationâs meetings, etc. but most likely I just donât know where to look.
Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company
No idea - Amador County started in 2024 - we just started on April 1, 2025 and first payments were due by July 31 - but I do not have any answers for you as Iâm not on the board . . .
Cheers
Looks like Sonoma is putting their process on hold for now:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/08/sonoma-county-puts-wine-tax-on-hold
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Fight the power!
The article does a nice job of highlighting the voices on both sides of the issue. It seems like thereâs an answer here, but one that ought to be discussed and negotiated, not imposed.
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