Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Murdoch's Plan For L.A. Vineyard On Hold, Awaiting License

ksimmons_wine.jpg
Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Rupert Murdoch is likely feeling the same frustration that many bar owners and brewers do here in L.A. The media mogul is currently awaiting the pending approval of a winemakers license from the ABC for the 16-acre Moraga Vineyards in the hills above Bel-Air, which he is hoping to purchase.

The listing price of the property and winery was $29.5 million, but the sale won't go through until he gets his license.

Says the L.A. Times:

California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control documents indicate that Murdoch applied for a Type 02 California Winegrowers license March 25 -- about six weeks before the 82-year-old tycoon gleefully announced on Twitter his plans to buy the vineyard. The license approval process typically takes 45 to 90 days, ABC spokesman John Carr said. Murdoch needs a winegrower's license to be able to manufacture, mix, flavor, color, label, sell or transport the wine. "A winegrower's license also authorizes the person ... to conduct wine tastings ... either on or off the winegrower's premises," according to ABC rules.

The property, which was the first commercial winery to be bonded in LA after the end of Prohibition, is been operated as a horse ranch in the past, but is currently owned by Tom Jones, former chief executive of Northrop Corp.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist