MOUNT AIRY, Ga. — The Mount Airy Town Council on Monday held the first reading of an amendment to its alcohol ordinance that would add a farm winery license class, paving the way for a new wine manufacturing operation to open within the town limits.
The ordinance, approved unanimously on first reading, also increases the number of alcohol licenses allowed under the town’s existing categories. A second reading is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Sweet Acre Farms
The amendment would allow Sweet Acre Farms owner Matt Vrahiotes to rebuild his wine manufacturing business in Mount Airy. His Alto-based winery, the first in Hall County since Prohibition, was destroyed by fire in January.
“Until recently, we had a winery that’s been around for about 12 years, and in January the business burned down to the ground,” Vrahiotes told the council. “It’s hard to imagine you have a business that you’ve put so much into — and it’s gone right before your eyes. But we decided we weren’t going to just lay down. One of the opportunities presented to us was to possibly start a wine manufacturing facility here in the city of Mount Airy.”
Vrahiotes said his initial plan calls for two separate buildings, with one used for wine production only — no tasting room — as the business rebuilds. He added that the farm winery license, once finalized, would align the town’s ordinance with state law and create opportunities for retail and agricultural expansion.
Mayor Ray McAllister said the change in the ordinance is meant to give the town flexibility as it updates its alcohol regulations, and they hope to work with Vrahiotes along the way.
“What we’re trying to do is get something basic in, and Matthew will tweak it as it needs to fit what we want to do here in Mount Airy,” McAllister said. “We’ll work with you if you can work with us — if you see anything that stands out in the paperwork, we’ll look at it and address it in the coming weeks.”
Timeline
Town Clerk Sheri Berrong outlined the procedural steps for adoption.
“This is just to have that class of license,” Berrong said. “If everything falls in line, this will be our first reading of amending our current ordinance. Next month will be the second reading so he can make an application for the license, and the second reading of the ordinance would be in January, so the ordinance would be in place after the license is able to be issued.”
