The license was apart of a new city ordinance that allows wine and package shops to allow tasting of their beverages.
Barley and Vine, at 1445 Rock Quarry Road in Stockbridge, is one such business that will benefit from the new license.
Owner Dan Vallish, paid a $210 annual fee to allow those who patronize his store to take four, 2-ounce samples within a two-hour period in his store.
One added benefit of this ordinance is the education tidbit, said Vallish in a statement.
“This permits educational tastings where local micro-breweries and wineries can provide a sampling of their products while educating folks about the background and other interesting details that went into making the wine or craft-brewed beer being sampled,” said Vallish.
Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis, community and economic development officer, agreed.
“For consumers unfamiliar with these brands, this allows them the opportunity to taste before spending a lot of money,” she said. “As a result, there is a more educated consumer and helps the business to be more profitable.”
Mathis also offered her perspective from the city council’s standpoint of both the first tasting license and the new city ordinance.
“I think from the council standpoint it will certainly say that Stockbridge is very business friendly,” she said. “We want to have ordinances and codes that are business-friendly, and this sends that kind of message.”
Mathis said the process was not a quick one.
“It was a several-months process,” she said. “It primarily involved the business owner educating the council on exactly what he wanted to do. He came in and gave a presentation. They were very supportive of what he was trying to accomplish.”
The new ordinance was prompted in large part by Barley and Vine, which carries a wide variety of craft-brewed beers and wines, available in growlers, or half-gallon jugs.
At the business, patrons can take home their preference of the 27 craft beers and wines, ranging in price from $9 to $19 for 64 ounces.
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