City leaders are in the process of lifting a cap on the number of wineries in town. The current limit, one, is taken by Stone Hill Winery on Missouri 165.
"There is a business we are currently talking with that will be building a vineyard, wine manufacturing facility, museum and restaurant right outside the city limits," City Administrator Terry Dody said. "They have shown interest in possibly being annexed in and we want to make sure we have a license for them if that happens. Vineyards and wine manufacturing facilities are a very low-impact type of tourist attraction that several other cities in Missouri have been able to utilize."
Initial approval to lift the cap was approved 5-1 this week. Final approval is expected June 12. The holdout, Alderman Jack Purvis, said he's "not receptive to the additional consumption of alcoholic beverages. Especially not in a restaurant setting where people can drink a bottle of wine, then be out on the road driving home," Purvis said. "At least if they buy in the liquor store in a package, they will hopefully take it home to drink it."
The new winery, Branson Ridge Winery, will be built on Sunrise Drive near U.S. 65 and F Highway, according to the Taney County Planning Department.