can you give me any advise for start up of a Wine Tasting Venue in Gonzales TX. I would like a home based business but could rent a historic building in town. There is nothing like this in our town. But many people who have requested someone opening one. I would appreciate your advice.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Starting a business involving alcoholic beverages will require licensing of some sort if you intend to sell or serve wine. I'm not entirely clear what you want to do from your description of a "wine tasting venue." Is your idea to have a retail store or a wine bar? Either would be a commercial establishment calling for a suitably zoned and licensed premise, not your personal residence. You can start by gathering information from the State of Texas (tabc.state.tx.us). I've noted on the site that Gonzales is a "wet" county, so that isn't a problem. Under "Licensing," look over the section entitled "Description of License and Permit Types." You'll find a long list of possible licenses, which only says that, if you intend to have a commercial role with wine, you'll need official permission! You can do more research to try to understand your options, and then you'll probably want to retain an attorney who specializes in this area. Each state has its peculiarities, and it makes sense to have someone who can navigate the process successfully. Hope this helps get you started.
