Regional Stay Home Order Announced

Likely to Impact All Regions Within Days Except Bay Area

Governor Newsom announced today a new regional stay home order, designed to address projected shortages in ICU units across the state due to COVID-19. Generally, the order prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all others.

Regions become subject to the order 48 hours after they fall below 15% ICU availability in hospitals. Regional orders remain in effect for at least three weeks, and will be lifted once the region meets or exceeds the 15% ICU capacity threshold.

Impact on Wineries: Once a region is subject to the order, wine tasting activities must cease. However, production and sales at wineries may continue. Sales at wineries may occur either via pickup or direct tasting room sales provided the tasting room does not exceed 20% capacity and no consumption is allowed. Our ability to retain these functions under the order is due to wineries being classified as critical infrastructure and the retail function of tasting rooms.

According to the Governor, all but the Bay Area region are likely to become subject to the order in the next few days, with the Bay Area following in about two-to-three weeks based on current projections. Here are the regions:

• Northern California: Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity
• Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma
• Greater Sacramento: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
• San Joaquin Valley: Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne
• Southern California: Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

Wine Institute will continue to update members on developments.