What is Backyard Vineyard?
Backyard Vineyard means, making your own wine from grapes grown in your backyard. A vineyard is a place where grapes are grown and wines are made, so by definition, a backyard vineyard would be making wine in your yard. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that can save you money, and there’s nothing like the taste of a wine made from homegrown grapes. Backyard vineries are a great hobby that you can enjoy year-round. It would be organic and as well as you know they would be the sweet fruits of your hard work. Want to know more about organic backyard vineyards? click here.
They can be a fun family activity and teach kids about nature while they’re at it
Do you need any license to start a backyard vineyard?
Commercial backyard vineries need licenses, but home-based backyard vineyards do not require a license. You can make wine at home without any license or registration purpose, but if you plan to sell it to other people, you must have the license. There is no legal requirement to have a license to make wine in your backyard, but there are some things you need to know in order to do it safely and legally.
You need to be aware of the laws governing winemaking in your area, and you need to make sure that you are following all of the safety regulations. It is also a good idea to join a local winemaking society or club, as they will be able to provide you with advice and support.
Some backyard vineries are not required to be licensed or registered by Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) if they produce less than 100 gallons of wine per year, but it is still useful for them to register with ABC so their backyard operation can be monitored by the state. This registration does not count as a license.
The following are some regulations that backyard vinery falls under:
Food safety regulations
The vineyard has to be within the backyard borders. If there are fruits, vegetables, and other plants in your backyard that you sell, then it falls under food safety regulations. It is regarding the safe production, harvesting, storage, and transport of food products from backyard gardens to markets.
But home vineyard does not fall under the backyard garden category because the backyard winery does not produce fruits, vegetables, or other backyard plants. It falls under the category of non-food backyard production, storage, or transport. So it is not considered backyard gardening.
Plant breeder’s rights
The backyard vineyard may fall under the plant breeder’s rights regulations. This is applicable if you breed plants from backyard plants. It has to be noted that backyard vineyard breeding of plants is not specifically mentioned in this category.
Agricultural regulations
The backyard vineyard might also fall under the agricultural regulations in some countries. So you have to find out whether it falls under this category and what is required if it falls under this category. But it does fall under the non-food backyard production, storage, or transport regulations because it is not involved in gardening where fruits, vegetables, and other backyard plants are produced.
Animal welfare regulations
Backyard plantations fall under animal welfare regulations if it involves domestic animals such as poultry and pets. But backyard vinery does not involve livestock such as cows, goats, or other backyard animals that produce products such as milk or eggs because this is not considered in backyard vinery production.
Environmental regulations
If your vinery involves plants that are genetically modified, backyard vinery falls under the environmental regulations in some countries. You have to find out whether your vinery falls under this category and what is required if it falls under this category.
Regulations on the use of drugs in agriculture
Backyard vinery may fall under the use of drugs in agriculture regulations if it involves medicine, food supplements, or chemicals. You should check with your local vineries about this as well.
Licensing policies for backyard vineyard.
Backyard vinery involves backyard plantations. When it lands on backyard plantations, the regulations are similar to agricultural regulations under the use of drugs in agriculture. There may be some plants that are not allowed to be grown in the backyard because they fall under the category of noxious or prohibited plants.
You have to find out whether the backyard vinery involves such plants or not.
The backyard vinery has to be licensed under the Farm Business Licensing Act in some countries. You have to find out whether it falls under this category and what is required if it falls under this category. As you can see, backyard vinery definitely falls under one or more of these categories. It is best that backyard vinery falls under backyard garden regulations because backyard vinery is basically backyard gardening.
Conclusion
These are just a few regulations that backyard vinery has to comply with. If you want to have a backyard vinery, then I would suggest that you speak with an expert before building one. However, backyard vinery falls under other types of regulations in some countries. You have to find out whether the backyard vineyard falls under this category and what is required if it falls under this category.
It never hurts to ask an expert or someone who knows. You never know what you do not know until you ask someone who knows. It would save you a lot of time and money in case you need to apply for licensing.
