Counties Tighten Shelter-in-Place Orders; Wineries Can Continue “Essential” Operations

Seven Bay Area counties in California (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz) issued updated shelter-in-place orders (“the County Orders”) with new restrictions and extended the effective date to May 3.

Wine Institute staff reached out to County Health Officials in Santa Clara and Alameda County and were informed that they are treating wine as food, which is consistent with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, and confirmed that under this interpretation, winery operations can continue as “essential businesses,” and purchase and pick up for offsite consumption at a winery facility is allowed.  Both County health officials strongly emphasized the need for appropriate social distancing and recognized the efficacy of curbside fulfillment of orders as an appropriate practice.

Sonoma County also extended its Order to May 3 and very clearly states that winery operations can continue, and that “retail sales to the public may occur via curbside pick-up, delivery, shipping . . . where otherwise allowed by law.

Under the updated County Orders, it is required that all “essential businesses … prepare, post and implement a Social Distancing Protocol” by April 2.

Santa Clara County Order (the other Bay Area County Orders are substantially similar) – https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/order-health-officer-033120.aspx

Summary of changes to the Bay Area County Orders from Alameda County – http://www.acphd.org/media/563713/summary-updated-shelter-in-place-order-20200331.pdf

Sonoma County Order – https://socoemergency.org/order-of-the-health-officer-shelter-in-place-extended/

The Social Distancing Protocol that businesses must implement – https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Documents/Appendix-A-Social-Distancing-Protocol.pdf

Wine Institute will continue to monitor and provide updates on the current situation here.

See Previous Updates ON ‘SHELTER-in-PLACE’ ORDERS