Dear Madam/Sir:
I'm trying to find out if I'm legally allowed to start a business as a
"Winemaker" in state of CA (San Diego)based on a winemaking business
methods of a Winemaker in Van Couver, B.C.
The Business website address in Van Couver is www.purplefootwinemaker.com.
I would like to know if I'm legally allowed by State of california to
have such winemaking business here in San Diego, CA? What licences,
qualifications & permits requiered in San Diego?
What are CA state law restrictions if any about this business in San Diego?

Hi! Thanks for the question.

Yes you are allowed to have a wine business in San Diego California.
The DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL of California provides
the answers you need to get the licenses and permits you need to
operate your business.

First here is the contact information for the government agency?s San
Diego branch. You will have to contact and visit them so as to apply
for the necessary permits.

DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL
1350 Front St., Room 5056
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 525-4064
Email: SDG.Direct@abc.ca.gov 
Source: http://www.abc.ca.gov/districts.asp?City=SDG#Sandiego 


Here are the different types of licenses you can apply for your wine
business. Based on the description of your business from your website,
it seems that you have to apply for two types of license; one is for
being a winegrower and the other for an ?OFF SALE BEER & WINE? store.

?COMMON ABC LICENSE TYPES AND THEIR BASIC PRIVILEGES?
http://www.abc.ca.gov/forms/abc616.pdf 


The license fee schedules you will need to pay for are available on
our next link. The fees applicable to your business will be found on
pages 1 and 3.

?SCHEDULE OF FEES?
http://www.abc.ca.gov/permits/2004FeeSch.pdf 


Before you can open your business, you will need to contact the United
States Treasury Department, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
if a federal permit is needed before you can start.

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/contacts.htm


The California government website provides the necessary activities
you have to follow in order to open the wine business. The next link
elaborates on the topics mentioned above.

?DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL?
http://www.abc.ca.gov/permits/permits.html# 


---------------------------------
Another more important concern for you since you are a Canadian is the
issue of obtaining a visa. An E-2 Visa will be good to check out
before you acquire the necessary permits in San Diego. Here are some
tidbits from the article.

?A well-established Canadian company wants to expand into the United
States but this is only in the planning stage. The company wants to
obtain E-2 status for a senior company official to move to the United
States temporarily to supervise start-up of the U.S. enterprise.?

?Solution: The U.S. consulate should be provided with documentation
that clearly shows why establishing a U.S. subsidiary is a viable and
desirable corporate undertaking. A business projection prepared by an
outside professional would provide valuable support for this. Coupled
with documentation of the company's Canadian financial success, this
presentation should satisfy the consulate.?

?E-2 Investor-Long-lasting U.S. Visa for Canadian Investors?
http://www.grasmick.com/invest.htm 


The winery industry in San Diego is a thriving one. They even have an
annual competition for wines at their area. I really hope that you
will be successful in this project.

San Diego National Wine Competition
http://www.sdnwc.org/index.cfm
 

Search terms used:
Wine business license "San Diego" California 
Business visa US Canadians

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                 
Thanks for visiting us.                
                 
Regards,                 
Easterangel-ga                 
Google Answers Researcher

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Request for Answer Clarification by enotica-ga on 14 May 2004 12:40 PDT

Dear easterangle-ga:
Thank you very much for all the answers you gave. However, I probably
was not clear on few issues for you to give me the correct answers on!
They are as following:
1- I am a US citizen
2- The wine making business in Canada is not mine & I just want to
copy their methods & style in San Diego.
3- I will not be a wine grower because my process of wine making is
based on mixing Grape juice concentrate with filtered water & specific
yeast products that in 4-6 weeks time turns them into a young & fresh
wine.
So, I hope with these clarifications on my intial question your
answers remain somewhat similar! If there is any change in
circumstances, please guide me further.
Thanks a million,
Best wishes,
Enotica Labame

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Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 14 May 2004 17:55 PDT

Hi enotica-ga!

Since you are a US citizen and you just want to adopt the business
model of Purple Foot Winemaker, then I think it will be easier for you
to setup the business. No need for visas.

You may also find it easier in getting permits because if you won't be
a winegrower then only the ?OFF SALE BEER & WINE? store license will
be of concern to you. But I want you to make sure on this, so please
ask the DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL San Diego office just
to make sure what permits you will really need to acquire to operate
the store trouble free.

I hope that you find my research and my comments helpful! :)

Best Regards,
Easterangel-ga