The city of Afton passed a new ordinance this week allowing agricultural wineries to hold wine tastings and sell bottled wine. The change brings the city closer to what is allowed under the state’s agricultural winery licensing law. The less restrictive rule was advocated for by Cody Kaye, the Afton winemaker behind Yellow House Vineyard, who hopes to offer small-group wine tastings at his 3-acre vineyard next year.
“The tasting will be by reservation only,” said Kaye, “more of a speakeasy atmosphere.”
The amendment passed by a vote of 3-1, with Councilman Randy Nelson voting against it. The ordinance allows off-premises sales during tastings, but not outside of those hours. The city’s Planning Commission approved the ordinance at a previous meeting after discussing how the city could limit hours, allow businesses to choose which days they are open, and what kind of off-street parking requirements would be needed.
Kaye would still need to apply for a conditional building permit, a process that would allow the city to set further guidelines for Kaye’s vineyard, which is located in a residential area.
The change in the city’s farm winery ordinance means other farms in Afton could offer something similar, said Mayor Bill Palmquist, including The Elm Tree Farm, which makes a cider made from five varieties of apples.
Kaye, who planted his grapevines 10 years ago as a college freshman, welcomed the change in regulation. He expects about 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of grapes this year on the family land, which he cleared of buckthorn and converted to prairie. The land is near Afton’s Bissell Mounds, three geological formations covered with limestone that was formed millions of years ago. The limestone sand found nearby is excellent soil for growing grapes, said Kaye, who studied viticulture at the University of Minnesota.
Kaye said he doesn’t currently sell wine, but has instead developed a niche product, wine jelly, which has found space on the shelves of Kowalski’s, Hy-Vee, Country Market and other grocery stores. He plans to use the proceeds from sales of his non-alcoholic Yellow House wine jelly to build a building at his vineyard to house a winemaking facility and tasting room. He hopes to open in late 2025 or early 2026.
“It was a trial by fire,” he said.
