Cherokee County OKs Beer Sales and Food Trucks at Winery

Big Door Vineyards in west Cherokee County is now allowed to have craft beer sold and food trucks on the premises.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted April 16 to approve board-initiated zoning condition modifications for Big Door Vineyards.

The subject property is at 125 Clearwater Trail near White and consists of almost 17 acres. A special use permit was approved for the property in 2020 with several conditions.

Certain conditions have been amended, including allowing the sale of craft beer (with restrictions), allowing alcohol to be served in the event lawn space in addition to the tasting room, allowing the use of outdoor loudspeakers (subject to the noise ordinance), and allowing the use of mobile food services/food trucks (with restrictions).

The previous conditions that were approved in 2020 were: sales and service (of alcohol) must be confined to the tasting room, but individuals may carry a glass or bottle to self-pour throughout the property, provided that there will be no consumption of alcohol in the parking lot; there will be no amplified sound, electrically augmented sound, or outdoor speakers utilized anywhere on the property, with the exception of within an entirely enclosed structure with no windows or doors left open in order to allow the sound to be heard outside of the enclosed structure; and food trucks are prohibited.

During the public hearing before the vote, an attorney representing a couple across the street from the winery said they had concerns about potential noise if outdoor loudspeakers are allowed. They asked that a decision on the request be postponed allowing time for a noise study to be completed.

One of the residents who was in attendance with the attorney also spoke during the public hearing, saying the winery was supposed to put larger shrubs on the property along the road to help limit noise.

Three other residents who live across the street from Big Door Vineyards spoke in favor of the amendments, saying they have a friendly relationship with Big Door Vineyards and it’s had a positive impact. They also said there is no issue currently with the outside noise, and that there won’t be any issues with these amendments.

Cherokee County adopted a countywide ordinance last year. Commissioner Benny Carter said 15 locations were used to create a “very sound, very fair, enforceable noise ordinance” for special event facilities.

“The noise will be controlled, and we have given a very definite serving area where serving will be allowed. We also have a control factor in there that will control the amount of beer and the type of beer that will be offered,” he said. “We are also going to allow four (food trucks) per week, but there are stipulations in there that state there will never be more than two there at one time, they will never be there more than three days a week, and they will run off of a direct power source.”