Winery expresses interest in downtown Medina, but zoning doesn’t allow it

MEDINA – A business interested in opening a winery in downtown Medina has reached out to village officials about the project.

Code Enforcement Officer Marty Busch said a winery would be an attraction, and could be a lift for the entire downtown.

There is a sticking point: the current zoning doesn’t allow a winery in the downtown.

The Village Board would need to have a public hearing and amend the zoning to allow a winery for the project to move forward, Busch said.

The current zoning for the downtown business district doesn’t prohibit a winery, but there isn’t language in the code allowing for such a use.

“It would be a great draw for the central business district,” Busch told the Planning Board on Tuesday. “There are several in the Finger Lakes and I think you’ll see some here.”

Busch said the possible winery in the downtown is only in the “talking stage.” He thinks Medina would be an ideal site for a winery and micro-breweries.

The state Legislature and Gov. Cuomo recently extended the Niagara Wine Trail through Orleans County. Downtown Medina also is on an upswing and Ale in Autumn and Wine about Winter events, which feature beer- and wine-tasting, are sellouts in Medina.