East Aurora Advertiser

South Wales Landowner Seeks Ability for Small Scale Farm Winery and Brewery



Plans are developing for a local wine and beer establishment in South Wales that will serve as a farm first, and a source to purchase craft alcohol.

Wales resident Lloyd DeMario recently met with the Planning Board virtually to discuss this plan. The business, named after his children and called Natemeg Farm, is originating out of a hobby that he wants to share with others. It would be located at 6846 Olean Road in South Wales. DeMario grows three types of grapes on his 80-acre plot – Diamond, Delaware and Marquette – and his goal is to one day have five acres of grapevines to make 500 to 700 hundred gallons of wine per year. He would also make craft beer in smaller batches, and he would be open for tastings year-round for a few days per week that have yet to be determined. The beer would be available in half kegs for parties and he does not have plans to bottle it. DeMario prefers to brew wheat and amber beer, and he has made maple-infused beer with maple syrup that his family makes on the farm.

The establishment would only be open for tasting and purchasing what DeMario makes. It would not become a bar that serves alcohol. 

“There is a limit on how much a person is allowed to sample in New York State, and it varies for wine, beer and liquor,” DeMario said.

There is currently a building on the property that measures 16-feet by 22-feet, and he has not finished it yet as a tasting room because he is first looking to cross off all of the areas of approval from the local and state level. Once that occurs, there would be limited seating inside, a table outside, and enough parking spaces to accommodate 10 vehicles.

“We have the ability to create an entrance and exit and expand the parking,” he said. “We have talked about serving food but then it involves the health department, and I just don’t know if I have the energy.”

After getting local approval, DeMario will submit his plan to the state to be approved as a farm brewery and farm winery, and then he will need approval from the Department of Treasury, Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade.

This process will take several months, and it has slowed down during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Realistically, I might not be open until September 2022,” he said. “That’s the hard part. Making it is easier.”

Members of the planning board suggested that he expand his plan for growth before presenting it to the town board. Planning Board Chairman Richard Munn cited Windy Brewery on Big Tree Road as an example of a business that was recently granted a liquor license but has been busier than he initially anticipated.

“He often runs out of parking and cars are parked on 20A. You can always backtrack,” Munn said. 

Following that meeting, DeMario doubled the amount of parking he was planning to have. He said he will be retiring soon from his day job, and is mainly interested in making his hobby a small business.

“I understand it could take off, but if it does too much I would probably move the business to a different location. That could be a lot of traffic for a neighborhood,” DeMario said.

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