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Date: 7/18/2023
GRANBY — The Selectboard approved an amended pouring license for soon to be opened Wine Haus and Vineyard at Jameson Farm that will allow the winery to begin serving malt beverages.
The approval came during the board’s July 10 meeting where a public hearing was opened for Jim Trompke, who also serves on the Planning Board, who requested the license as he continues preparation of opening a tasting room and retail area at his recently opened vineyard. The farm began production last year and has recently added hops to their grow.
The winery has a vineyard of 18 acres located on the East Street property and has already been licensed by the state and federal government to produce wine and beer on site. Trompke needed the amended pouring license for the town to allow him to produce beer or malt beverages.
When opened to the board for discussion, board member Richard Beaulieu said a letter had been sent in from a concerned resident and neighbor of the winery raised concerns about traffic and the amendment leading to the winery opening more of a bar option.
Trompke, in response to the letter, said the concern of traffic was a “moot point” and was raised when he applied for and was given his initial pouring license a year ago, something that has to be renewed every year.
“Traffic is heavy on that street to begin with, and it keeps getting heavier and it has nothing to do with anything that goes on in this town,” Trompke said. “Our town has become a pass through. We’re like one big rotary, traffic goes in and goes out the other end, and nobody stops here and nobody is contributing to any other establishments in town. This is something here for the town, benefits the town, we’ll have different fundraisers [occasionally] there but we’re not going to impact the traffic.”
Trompke said during his June 2022 meeting to secure his first wine pouring license that there should not be any issues that should catch the town off guard as there was a dog kennel operating out of the location previously. He added in the most recent meeting that wineries such as his have opened up all over the state recently in rural residential areas such as Granby due to the farming community they are.
When opened to public comments, the resident who had written the letter mentioned spoke. He felt the request could lead to the winery opening a bar type venue that is open late and creates added concerns for traffic on the road.
“I didn’t protest his grapes and making his wine, that’s fine, but I think with the beer license eventually he’s gonna be bringing in other brands of beer or whatever else and we’re gonna have a pub right across the street from my house and like I said in the paperwork, would you like that to happen to you?” he asked.
He added he was not trying to single out Trompke and he felt the vineyard was “beautiful,” but he was against the amended license due to the potential slippery slope in his eyes.
“And the traffic is an issue, when they’re leaving at night — I ain’t saying they’ll have drunk too much — it’s just it’s going to create a problem with that traffic. When [a car] comes around that corner its moving, somebody pulls out trying to get out there and you’re going to have a ton of problems,” he added.
Another resident spoke in favor of the winery and its request for the malt beverage pouring license and added she has lived right on the corner of the stretch in question for 29 years and the winery might end up helping with traffic.
“I’m in favor because it will slow people down. Also there used to be a kennel there before with capacity for 50 dogs. Accidents are already there, I think it would be good to have people slowing down to turn,” she said.
When closed to the public, Beaulieu added he thought the traffic problem had been discussed and addressed last year and said through those discussions the police chief had not shown any issues with it.
Beaulieu added he does not believe Trompke would attempt to open a bar in the future at the location.
Trompke reiterated his business was already on its way to opening to the public and that this public hearing was just for a pouring license amendment. He added the plan is to have the business be open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. — with hours most likely to change during winter season — for pouring and no intentions of anything beyond that.
Trompke also stated that if any issues were to arise, he would consult with the town and also added he would be coming back each year for a new license anyway due to state law, so the board could always consider a different decision in the future if need be.
“They’ve [wineries] sprung up all over the state. They’re very popular, family oriented,” Trompke said. “The town is very important to me, I’m not going to do anything that’s detrimental.”
Board member Crystal Dufresne said she understood some of the concerns about traffic but ultimately agreed the traffic is from a variety of factors and this one business would not be the reason behind it.
“I think it is because we are a throughway to other communities, even Ludlow Road is super busy. We just have super busy streets and not cause of any one business,” Dufresne said. “I would hate to limit a business that’s just trying to get started when we don’t have any problems yet.”
Selectboard Chair Glen Sexton added that if something didn’t feel right after this first year, Trompke needed to come back for a new license each year so issues will have opportunities to be addressed if needed. He also noted Trompke offering beer as a beverage was to aid his business and as an example said a couple where one person drinks wine and the other drinks beer could still go to the winery for a good time.
The application and amendments to it were approved unanimously by the Selectboard.
For more information about the Wine Haus and Vineyard at Jameson Farm head to https://www.restaurantji.com/ma/granby/wine-haus-and-vineyard-at-jameson-farm-/.