Open doors don’t mean full pouring rights — at least not yet.
Niagara-on-the-Lake council has voted to advance Stone Eagle Winery’s bid to serve wine by the glass across its property.
The approval allows the winery to move forward with its application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — a step required before on-site wine service can be offered beyond currently licensed areas.
The decision comes shortly after the estimated $40-million facility, built by Benny Marotta’s Solmar Development Corp., opened to the public on Nov. 5 following a private grand opening on Oct. 25.
At the Nov. 18 council meeting, Coun. Gary Burroughs questioned why the licensing request was coming forward after the winery had already opened.
“While I’m supportive, I would have thought, since it’s already open, this procedure would have been done already,” he said.
Town clerk Grant Bivol said the winery does have an existing liquor licence, but it applies only to certain areas on the site.
“This is an endorsement that will allow sale by the glass on site,” Bivol said. “Their liquor license didn’t include that for the entire property.”
The endorsement itself does not grant permission to pour wine. Instead, it gives Stone Eagle what it needs to take the next step and submit its application to the province’s alcohol and gaming commission.
