WHITE, Ga. — The 10 acres of vines he planted in rural Cherokee County were part of a lifelong dream for Rodney Alldredge.
"My best friend and I always wanted to have a business together. When we started it, we wanted to make it the best possible business we could have," he told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen.
Big Door Vineyards opened just a few months ago and Alldredge has already produced award-winning wines. But now the owner finds himself in a battle with his neighbors over noise complaints and events held on his property.
"The chief complaint is that neighbors are having a commercial facility come in," neighbor Dean Phillips said.
Phillips told Petersen that many who live in Cherokee County are OK with the vineyard and the wine-tasting room.
"What we're objecting is having concerts, hosting huge events, having wine parties and basically making this a 'bar' in this tiny little neighborhood," Phillips said.
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Alldredge is worried the Cherokee County Commission will pull the rug out from under his business after he was granted the go-ahead to build.
The owner said a Georgia winery cannot succeed if it only grows grapes and bottles wine.
"Sales of your wine will only be half your income and cover your costs. You have to have events and weddings to make a profit," he said.
The Cherokee County Commission will meet Tuesday night to settle the disputes.
Cox Media Group
