By Miriam Raftery

August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – By a unanimous vote, San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors have approved a new ordinance allowing small “boutique” wineries to open tasting rooms and offer retail sales. The decision is expected to be a boom to local agricultural and tourism industries in East County, where the vast majority of San Diego County’s 40 wineries and vineyards are located.

“The vote was a great one for the local wine and grape-growing industry,” William Holzhauer and Tammy Rimes, owners of Hacienda de Las Rosas Winery in Ramona, said in an e-mail to winery customers.