Santa Barbara County winery challenges mandatory wine district fee in lawsuit

SoCal winery files furious lawsuit against Santa Barbara accusing it of trying to milk it dry

The winery says the system forces participation in the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, which administers the district and controls how the money is spent on promotional campaigns and industry advocacy.

Lompoc Winery Proceeds With Lawsuit Against Santa Barbara County

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - A winery in Lompoc is going to court to stop.what it claims is an unconstitutional mandate from the county. Flying Goat Cellars is suing the Board of Supervisors. For the last year, a mandatory 1% assessment fee from direct-to-consumer sales transactions at wineries, stores and tasting rooms is going to the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Association. “We can go under the Fifth Amendment and, have that aspect of the consti…

Santa Barbara County winery challenges mandatory wine district fee in lawsuit

A legal dispute is unfolding in Santa Barbara Countys wine industry as Flying Goat Cellars, represented by the Goldwater Institute, challenges a mandatory assessment fee tied to the countys Wine Business Improvement District.The lawsuit seeks to allow Flying Goat Cellars to opt out of the district and stop paying a required 1% assessment fee collected from wineries under the program.The Wine Business Improvement District was created in 2023 afte…