COVID-19 RESOURCES

Below you’ll find information for wineries related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The association will update this page as information is released, with outdated/archived updates available here.

Updated September 16, 2020

Governor Reynolds issues update on August Proclamation Closing Hospitality Establishments in 6 Counties

Effective at 5:00 p.m. on September 16, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on September 20, 2020 permits bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs to reopen in four counties: Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn, and Polk counties. It also removes the restrictions on hours that alcohol may be sold in restaurants in those counties. And it clarifies the social distancing requirements that apply to bars and restaurants throughout the entire state.

Bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs continue to be closed in Johnson and Story counties. They may continue to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises. Restaurants in these two counties are still permitted to remain open, but must stop selling and serving alcoholic beverages after 10:00 p.m. To view the full version of the proclamation issued on September 15, click here.

FOR ESTABLISHMENTS IN ALL COUNTIES OTHER THAN JOHNSON AND STORY

A.    Restaurants and bars: A restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club, may reopen or remain open to serve food and beverages on its premises, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:

(1)   Social distancing: The establishment must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining alone. Seating at booths closer than six feet may satisfy this requirement if the booths are separated by a barrier of a sufficient height to fully separate seated customers. All patrons must have a seat at a table, booth, or bar, and must consume their food or beverage while seated at the table, booth, or bar. Establishments must limit patrons from congregating together closer than six feet.

(2)   Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The restaurant shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each restaurant to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health.

FOR ESTABLISHMENTS IN JOHNSON AND STORY COUNTIES

A.    Bars and other alcohol establishments: All bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs, and other establishments that sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on their premises shall be closed to the general public, except as permitted in this section:

(1)   Carry-out, drive-through, and delivery: To the extent permitted by applicable law, food or beverages may be sold if the food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, such as on a carry-out or drive-through basis, or if the food or beverage is delivered to customers off the premises.

(2)   Private rental: An establishment that is closed to the general public may still serve food and beverages at a private gathering hosted at the establishment, such as a wedding reception, provided that the establishment complies with all requirements for restaurants in paragraph B of this section. 

(3)   Restaurants:  An establishment that prepares and serves food, the sale of which results in at least half of the establishment’s monthly revenues may reopen or remain open to serve food and beverages, provided that the establishment complies with all requirements for restaurants in paragraph B of this section. The monthly revenues of a brewery, distillery, or winery do not include the sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises or at other retail locations.

(4)   Premises: Bars located in hotels, casinos, movie theaters, or sporting venues, or other establishments that are not required to be closed by this paragraph must still close to the public except as permitted in this paragraph. But this paragraph does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol on a casino floor, inside an individual theater, or in a person’s hotel room, provided that the establishment otherwise complies with all relevant requirements of the public health proclamation issued on August 21, 2020.

B.     Restaurants: A restaurant, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club, may reopen or remain open to serve food and beverages on its premises, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:

(1)   Food service required: An establishment serving alcoholic beverages must also prepare and serve food to all customers, and the sale of alcoholic beverages must be no more than half of the establishment’s monthly revenues. The monthly revenues of a brewery, distillery, or winery do not include the sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises or at other retail locations.   

(2)   Social distancing: The establishment must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining alone. Seating at booths closer than six feet may satisfy this requirement if the booths are separated by a barrier of a sufficient height to fully separate seated customers. All patrons must have a seat at a table, booth, or bar, and must consume their food and beverage while seated at the table, booth, or bar. Establishments must limit patrons from congregating together closer than six feet. 

(3)   Alcohol sales: An establishment permitted to be open may only sell or serve alcohol for consumption on the premises from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday if such sales are authorized by the establishment’s license. Establishments must not sell or serve alcohol after 10:00 p.m. or until alcohol sales are permitted on the following day, except that to the extent permitted by applicable law, food or beverages may be sold if the food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, such as on a carry-out or drive-through basis, or if the food or beverage is delivered to customers off the premises.

(4)   Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The restaurant shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each restaurant to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health.

A printable “Social Distancing 101” PDF can be found here.

If you have further questions related to food safety guidelines, please email the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) at food@dia.iowa.gov. DIA also has additional guidance related to food service available on their website.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority has information available for business owners who are impacted by a COVID-19-related closure.