The plan to build a winemaking facility for Sea Smoke Cellars has been approved by the Lompoc Planning Commission.

The 5.2-acre development plan site, at 1600 North O St., was brought to the commission by Rosario Perry as a representative of Cerdoc LLC, and is intended as the first of three 25,000-square-foot wine processing buildings for the lot. Perry said an additional 50,000-square-foot winemaking facility was planned by Cerdoc on an adjacent lot.

CWe/re thrilled about it,C Perry said via phone, adding that Sea Smoke hopes to break ground on its facility in three months, about the same time Perry hopes to break ground on his 50,000-square-foot building.

The plan was approved Wednesday in a 4-0 vote. Commission Chairman Jack Rodenhi was absent.

Perry said at least one other

Bbig nameC local wine label was in

discussion with him about occupying one of the planned buildings, with

the larger structure able to

accommodate several smaller wineries.

The Sea Smoke facility will be for wine production only, and will not offer wine tastings, though Perry expressed hopes of incorporating tasting into some of the remaining building development plans.

The Cerdoc projects, along with a nearby winemaking facility for Loring Wine Company and Pali Wine Company, have the makings of a new nexus of wine activity in Lompoc, similar to the affectionately named BWine GhettoC area behind the Home Depot, where many Lompoc winemakers, including Sea Smoke, currently have facilities.

Perry said he would like to avoid the term Bghetto,C however.

BWe call this Flight Central,C he said, a play on the site/s proximity to the Lompoc Airport and to the winetasting term Bflight,C used to describe a group of wines available for tasting.

BWe definitely want to use the airport as a resource in conjunction with the wine industry,C Perry said, mentioning possibly synergy with wine business and tourism.

Perry added that he would be looking for hanger space at the airport in the near future.

Glenn Wallace can be reached at 737-1059 or gwallace@santamariatimes.com

April 15, 2008