Thoughts on starting very small winery.

Hokapsig said:

Hops, I agree. The TTB's site said it would take 65 days and when finally called after 72 days, the TTB said they would have to dig out my application. I have had to re-do 8 questions, all of which have finally been submitted back to the TTB. Time to work on the PLCB state forms.

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GreginND said:

I'm trying to remember, didn't you need the FDA registration for your federal application? I thought I had to do that and it was quick and painless. But I may have needed it for my state application. I'm still waiting and haven't heard anything yet.

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The FDA registration is not something the federal TTB winery permit application asks for. However, if producing on a commercial level, it is something a winery will need. It may have been requested on your state application for a license. I'm not sure why it isn't noted or requested on the federal application, as it is an important step.

It's been 93 days and this is all I have heard from the TTB so far . . .

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re72di5phM0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re72di5phM0[/ame]

Can you call or email them?

In general do they approve operations that are in a garage setting? Or possibly a large climate controlled garden shed. (Very clean garage with no car parked inside)

the wine has to be made in a bonded warehouse or in layman's language a place that can be secured. Wine is not taxed on a federal basis until it leaves the bonded area, usually the tasting room or for distribution. TTB site gives you all the requirements.

Yes, you can bond a garage, but you won't be able to use it as a garage any more. It will be a bonded wine production area.

I did write to them. The agent called me back within a few hours. As I suspected, they haven't even looked at the application yet (after 93 days). Even after I talked to them in July and was told they would do their best to get me approved before harvest time.

I told them if I don't get the licensing done in the next few weeks before harvest, my cash flow (and their taxes) would be delayed until 2016!

Wow...a lot of delays and red tape and waiting. What are they so busy doing?

I got 2 emails (after sending my emails last week). Although I had an area in the basement set aside as the "bonded area" (a nook beside and under the stairs), the TTB proposed making the entire basement as the bonded area, which I agreed to.

I also approached the local vo-tech school and found out that they have a graphic arts department. The instructor said that they do commercial printing of labels. I forwarded a list of wine names to the instructor and the TTB's pdf for preparing labels. I would like to have the students give me some labels (or at least some idea for labels) that I can review and send to the TTB. This gives the kids some real world experience and gets me some community good will and possibly some snazzy labels. Maybe the kids parents will come and purchase wine in which thier kid designed the label.....

I found out (from the state) that I need a 3 bowl stainless steel sind and a stainless steel handwashing sink installed in the basement. Currently the basement walls are painted/waterproofed, but the basement is unfinished. The state health department may have an issue with that.

I also have to go and take pictures of the farmer's market with will be the tasting/sales area for the wine. The state permit wants money with all the applications sent to them. I have also been told to file my labels and recipes on the TTB site for approval.

Yes, you will need to submit for label approval. If you anticipate needing labels soon - I would submit what you have as soon as you get your TTB approval. I don't know about your state, but mine is much easier. I'm not in a city jurisdiction so my other issues are not that much of a problem. State is pretty easy. I don't think I need a hand washing sink, but I am putting in a second one anyway. I am mostly worried about not having a handicapped accessible bathroom in the tasting room. I will rent handicap accessible portables during large events but at this time I don't have the $$$ to put in a permanent bathroom. Need some cash flow first.

Got an email from the TTB stating they were submitting my application for final approval. Now on to the state license, labels and filing my recipes with the TTB.

Finally after almost 4 months things are happening. I called the TTB a couple days ago and left a message saying it had been another month since they told me they were about to look at my application. Apparently that spurred them to actually look at the application. Other than clarifying some details about my LLC partnership and needing a 5100.1 form (singing authority for LLC partners) the one hangup was that the surety company forgot to add my business name to the bond form. Had to get it amended and initialed to add the name. First time in thousands of bond forms they forgot the name! Anyway, it looks like I should have my license next week!!

Hey, Greg, that is great! Progress! You and Ho both so close together.

I just noticed that the OP of this thread has only posted that one time! Guess we scared him off....

We are now working on the PLCB license. But we also went to pick grapes in NC this weekend.

Maybe it doesn't happen so fast? I am not sure what the process is from here. In my on-line application under "Status" it is still with "Specialist Review" and is marked as corrected.

Under that are three more things: Referral Review, Field Review and Manager Disposition. What are those? I was presuming there is nothing more to correct that the application would be approved. I hope these don't take another 4 months each!!!

Can someone who has been through this inform me of what these next steps in the status mean and how much time it might take?

Thanks.

Greg, I found that the squeeky wheel gets the oil. The more I called, the faster the process went. It kept my app on the top of the stack. From the time I started calling, it was 6 weeks to the permit.

Thanks, but what are the steps after this specialist review? Does it now go to someone else and how do I know who to contact?

Those things are unfamiliar to me. I spoke with one woman who was working with the application, she asked questions for the review, asked for pictures, etc and we had the permit a short while later.

Greg, I called the TTB hotline listed on the website. When they answered, I explained that I had submitted my application (have your application number handy) and I wanted to check on my status. I was forwarded to my field reviewer, who reviewed my submissions with me and told me everything looked good (that was a big lie). It took another 3 calls and 4 emails to correct the nit-picky issues. But all is well now....

My friend who got a winery license last year sent his renewal in and it sat on someone's desk for a couple of months, then they wanted a $400 penalty for it being late. When you send in your renewal, be sure to have it return receipt requested and know the name of the person who will be signing for it.