WL farmers market opens way for wine

  When the Sagamore West Farmers' Market opens this season there will be a new product among the other locally produced fruits and vegetables -- wine.

Despite the city's restrictions on alcohol in its parks, the West Lafayette parks board on Monday agreed to allow the Monticello-based Whyte Horse Winery to sell tastings and wine at the first farmers market of each month.

This year's first farmers market in West Lafayette is May 6 in Cumberland Park.

Chandler Poole, the city's development director, said the idea of bringing a winery to the farmers market has been in the works for six months.

"It's going to be a great addition," Poole said. "As people are looking for new ways to make the farmers market experience a good one ... this (will just be) a natural fit."

Kathleen Mills, market director, said more wineries could be added in the future, but the Whyte Horse Winery will be the only winery at the market in 2009.

For $5, Mills said, people can get four tastes of wine totaling 2 ounces and a wine glass.

A glass of wine is 7 ounces, Mills said.

Joe Payne, the city's parks superintendent, said alcohol would still be banned from city parks property except for special events, such as the Comcast Taste of Tippecanoe.

Rick Black, co-owner of the Wildcat Creek Winery just north of Lafayette, said he'd consider selling his wine at the city's farmers market in the future, but he's too busy right now.

"To me, it's tremendously appropriate," Black said.

Kevin Cooley, co-owner of Cooley Family Farm, who sells his produce at the farmers market, said he wouldn't mind a winery sharing space at the market.

"It is another agriculture product," Cooley said. "The more products that we can bring to the market that are locally made, the more shoppers we'll have."

Poole said the city hasn't considered opening the farmers market to other producers of alcoholic beverages, such as breweries.