Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/867389
20 WINES&VINES September 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS SUPPORT RESEARCH & WINE INDUSTRY NEEDS THROUGH THE A M E R I C A N V I N EYA R D FOUN D AT I O N i m p r ov i ng t h e h e a l t h o f g r a p e v i n e s w i t h g e n e t i c s a n d nov e l d i ag no s t i c s t o o l s The AVF is funding two of Dr. Cantu's research projects. The first is to identify and characterize the functions of resistance genes to use for breeding of new grape varieties with effective and durable resistance to powdery mildew. The second is to develop rapid and cost-effective diagnostic methods for the detection, identification and quantification of grapevine trunk pathogens. For more information, visit AVF.org or contact Dr. Cantu at dacantu@ucdavis.edu. For a wealth of useful viticulture and enology research and information, visit AVF.org, ngr.ucdavis.edu, asev.org, iv.ucdavis.edu or ngwi.org Finding Solutions Through Research Finding Solutions Through Research AMERICAN VINEYARD FOUNDATION • P.O. Box 5779, Napa, CA, 94581 • tel (707) 252-6911 Visit our Web site at www.avf.org for information on funding and current research projects AMERICAN VINEYARD FOUNDATION • P.O. Box 5779, Napa, CA, 94581 • tel (707) 252-6911 Visit our Web site at www.avf.org for information on funding and current research projects B uellton, Calif.—In the midst of a chal- lenging season for wine producers looking to open tasting rooms in Santa Barbara County, the city of Buellton is opening its arms to wine-related businesses, in part through its Planning Commission's unanimous vote to approve The Commons, a public mar- ket that includes 16 wine tasting and tap rooms, as well as fine dining and fast-casual restaurants, food and specialty goods retail- ers, a 6,000-square-foot central lawn and 4,000 square feet of event space. The market is set to break ground this fall and open in summer 2018. Don Conner is a principal with Coast De- velopment Partners, which is developing The Commons. He reports that all tenants will be local to the Central Coast (which he defines as Ventura to Paso Robles) and says Coast Devel- opment Partners already has received signed leases or letters of intent to lease for 80% of The Commons' 38 spaces. "The whole position of the development is artisan, craft, higher quality, more sophisti- cated," he says, explaining that, consequently, the developers have steered away from na- tional tenants. Coast Development Partners is targeting wineries that produce anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 cases annually, though these limits also include small-produc- tion brands that are owned and operated by larger companies. Long known as a working city among the more touristy towns of Los Olivos and Solvang, Buellton lies at the western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley, at the intersection of two of Santa Barbara County's major traffic arteries: High- way 101 and Highway 246. The Commons will occupy 5 acres adjacent to the existing Fires- tone Walker Brewing Co. on McMurray Road. "Right now, you have within wine country what I would call two daytime social districts: Solvang and Los Olivos," says Conner. "Solvang now has about 15 or so tasting and tap rooms; Los Olivos has nearly 50. But when you look at both of those daytime social dis- tricts come evening, both kind of evaporate, and most of the activity and energy in the valley then transitions to the restaurants; they become the social hubs." Conner explains that by offering both tast- ing and tap rooms in addition to restaurants and retail in one location, The Commons proj- ect is set to capitalize on the congregation of day-into-night visitors. "Buellton's attitude toward business and development is definitely very pro-growth compared with other cities, and certainly with the county," Conner said. "The city incorpo- rated 25 years ago, partly to control its own destiny because a lot of tax revenue being gen- erated was not being spent within its own area. They've operated as a fairly autonomous group ever since." —Jaime Lewis Buellton Approves Public Market to House Wine Tasting Rooms The Commons will include 16 wine tasting and tap rooms, according to the developer's plans.