Cass County winery set to reopen

During the pandemic, several companies have had to change the way they do business – closing early, reducing the number of patrons allowed inside, offering delivery or curbside service, setting new guidelines – and in some cases, closing altogether.

Clubs that rely on alcohol sales for more than 51% of their sales were hit the hardest. Texas guidelines put in place by Governor Gregg Abbott have shut down all the bars in the state, and left restaurants operating at 50% capacity.

However, some of those bars have been able to reopen by reclassifying themselves as restaurants. To do so, they must have a kitchen on the premise and must prove that more than 51% of their sales comes from food or merchandise.

O’Farrell Country Vineyards, located on Highway 995 between Atlanta and Douglassville, has applied for, and received, a temporary restaurant license allowing them to reopen to the public. The grand reopening will be held this Friday, September 11, Noon to 7 p.m.

“We are open for seating again, but it will be a little different,” said Lyle McBride. “We have to sell slightly more food than wine to meet the requirements. Fifty-one percent has to be food, T-shirts, or any non-alcoholic merchandise.”

The Winery posted a question about whether they should attempt this on their Facebook page, and the response was “overwhelming, with more than 300 positive responses.”

A kitchen remodeling project has been completed and the menu will be the same as usual – various cheeses, meats, hummus and breads. They have add ed some new T-shirts to the merchandise lineup, that includes wine openers and gift items.

The hours will be the same as before, noon to 7 p.m. each Friday and Saturday.

They will still offer Wine To Go, and Thursday is the last day of the You-Pick season.