Exclusive Wine Country Pool Club Plans Canceled: Here’s What Happened

Jen Pelka, the founder of Une Femme Wines, envisioned transforming the typical wine tasting experience into something unique—a pool club in Sonoma, where visitors could sip sparkling wine by the water with stunning vineyard views. To make this idea a reality, she sought nearly $7 million from investors, secured the opportunity to purchase the well-known Patz & Hall tasting room, and hired a designer to create plans for a pool.

However, Pelka’s dreams unraveled when the Sonoma County planning department informed her that zoning laws prohibited pools at wineries. Genevieve Bertone, a spokesperson for the planning department, explained that these regulations, while enforced by the department, actually stem from the county’s need to balance the growth of the wine industry with the preservation of the region’s agricultural integrity.

For Pelka, this felt like significant regulatory overreach. Amid dwindling tourism and a wine industry struggling to attract new drinkers, she argued that the area needed fresh and engaging concepts to bring customers back. Despite initial enthusiasm, she quickly learned that recreational activities like pools were not permissible on agricultural lands, which are primarily reserved for activities that directly promote agricultural production.

Though some wineries, such as Francis Ford Coppola Winery, have pools, they exist under different commercial zoning regulations. Pelka realized that aligning her vision with the county’s General Plan would require a lengthy and costly rezoning process. Ultimately, she decided to withdraw from the property deal, expressing sadness for the sellers and the missed opportunity for innovation in the Sonoma wine scene.

Pelka’s Une Femme brand began as the house wine for her now-closed Champagne bar, the Riddler, and has since evolved into a successful venture, selling around 300,000 cans of wine this year alone. She believed the proposed pool club could attract a new generation of wine drinkers seeking novel experiences. Despite the setback, she remains committed to finding creative ways to engage with customers in the future.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!