Wine Institute Issues Protocols for Tasting Room Reopenings

To ensure the highest level of health and safety practices in California wineries during the COVID-19 crisis, Wine Institute has developed comprehensive protocols as guidance for the future reopening of California winery tasting rooms. The protocols, which cover Education and Training, Wellness Screenings, Sanitation Requirements, Distancing and Occupancy and Operations, are based on established government health and safety guidance (CDC, OSHA, FDA, and CDPH) and consultation with Dr. Petros Karakousis, an expert in infectious diseases and associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and David Sarvadi, a senior OSHA legal expert and partner at Keller and Heckman LLP. Wine Institute’s COVID-19 Health and Safety ad hoc Working Group, members of the Wine Institute Legal Subcommittee, hospitality representatives from member wineries and California winery associations also provided information and review.

Wine Institute will publicly release these documents following review with the Governor’s office and is providing the protocols to members now so they can begin preparations for future reopenings. Wine Institute will also be issuing FAQs on reopening protocols following the public release.

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