Lompoc winery opposes county ordinance, fee

(The Center Square) – A winery in Santa Barbara County is challenging what it calls an illegal government mandate. In February 2025, the county Board of Supervisors approved the creation of a Wine Business Improvement District or Wine BID. It requires wineries to pay a 1% fee on all their sales to fund regional marketing efforts. Wineries must also become members of the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association, which controls how the money is spent. Flying Goat Cellars, a Lompoc winery, is challenging the mandate with help from attorneys at Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute. “There’s no opt-out,” Goldwater senior staff attorney Adam Shelton told The Center Square. “They have to join, and they have to pay the 1% fee.” When asked for a dollar amount for 1% of her business' sales, Flying Goat Cellars co-owner Kate Griffith said the amount is not the issue. The issue is that they were forced to pay something and be members. “If we do not want to be associated or affiliated with this organ