(Wines&Vines) - B.C. wineries will be allowed to offer a full range of liquor under the latest reform implemented following a 2013 review of the province’s liquor policies.

On July 28, The B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch issued a policy directive, which “allows wineries, breweries and distilleries with a lounge or SEA (special event area) to sell a limited amount of liquor in addition to that which they manufacture themselves.”

All product sold under the new policy must be consumed onsite, which means no retail sales are allowed. In addition, “no more than 20% of the total value of liquor purchased for the lounge or SEA must be from liquor not made by the manufacturer.”

The policy change allows wineries across the province to avoid the licensing hassles Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna, B.C., faced for more than a decade trying to operate its restaurant and accommodate special events on its property. Summerhill Pyramid also sits within the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), which limits certain activities in the name of saving land for agriculture.

B.C. wineries that serve food have typically done so under a license endorsement introduced in 2005 that allowed them to sell and serve only “wine manufactured and bottled in British Columbia.” Weddings and special events have often required a special event license. A food primary license (which Summerhill won after years of effort) allows holders to serve a full range of alcoholic beverages (something not permitted under a winery lounge endorsement) and obviates the need for a special occasion license.

Summerhill CEO Ezra Cipes welcomed news of the policy change.

 “I think it's great,” he told Wines & Vines. “It is good for agri-tourism and supports a lot of land under vine.…Creating a world-class guest experience at the winery is what it’s all about.”

While the policy directive doesn’t exempt wineries from local government bylaws and zoning regulations governing their activities, they’re free from previous restrictions the Agricultural Land Commission enforced on properties within the ALR.

Such policies prompted land commissioners to nix a bid Burrowing Owl Estate Winery made for a food-primary license on the strength of regional government concerns regarding the impact the winery’s restaurant would have on other local restaurateurs.

Contacted by Wines & Vines following of this week’s policy announcement, staff with the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen said they would respect provincial policies.

The change liberalizing rules for on-premises offerings follows the controversial move earlier this year to allow wine sales in grocery stores beginning April 1.