City to Consider Wine-Tasting Businesses

After , the San Marino City Council is revisiting the matter at . No official vote is expected to take place Wednesday, however, according to city manager Matt Ballantyne.

The issue arose when 55 Degree Wine, which has a wine bar and shop in Atwater Village, showed interest in opening a wine bar in the vacant San Marino Courtyard space next to .

Operation of a wine tasting establishment in San Marino would require an ordinance amending current city code that requires alcohol sales and consumption to accompany a restaurant, as opposed to a place that serves small plates and perhaps not full-fledged meals.

Council members previously discussed the possible terms of the business, such as hours, and that it would need to serve some sort of food, not just wine.

The Planning Commission then met about the issue and it is now back to the council.

Alan Chen, the owner of —a shop adjacent to San Marino Courtyard that sells wine for off-site consumption—told Patch in April that since San Marino did not allow tasting on the premises when Wine Connections began 10 years ago, he never applied for a license. Chen said if he were to apply for one now, it would require him to dramatically alter the business to suit health department requirements, such as his and hers restrooms.

“If [the city] allow[s] them to do tasting they can start from scratch much easier,” said Chen. “For us right now it’s almost impossible unless we change location.”

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San Marino City Council meetings are held in City Hall's City Council Chambers on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.