Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Mike Brownfield
“For more than two decades, Flying Goat founders Norm Yost and Kate Griffith have built their family-owned winery into one of the region’s most innovative and celebrated producers—pursuing their own vision of what their winery should be along the way. But last year, county officials and the leaders of the local vintners’ association decided that they know what’s best for Flying Goat. In February 2025, the board created a wine ‘Business Improvement District,’ or Wine BID, requiring all local wineries to pay a 1% assessment on sales to fund regional marketing efforts. The ordinance also forces wineries to become members of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, which controls how the money is spent. … The problem is, Norm and Kate don’t want anything to do with the Wine BID because they don’t agree with its marketing or lobbying activities — including paying for overseas trips for its leaders.” (06/03/26)
https://fee.org/articles/winery-sues-santa-barbara-over-unconstitutional-mandate/