MALAGA — Saint Laurent Winery will appeal a May 21 hearing examiner ruling that it must close its tasting room because its hilltop site is no longer a winery.

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The ruling also prevents the company from hosting outdoor events with amplified music. The ruling obliged Saint Laurent to cancel its summer concert series.

Chelan County Hearings Examiner Andrew Kottkamp ruled that the company's tasting room would have to close, because Saint Laurent no longer performs the entire winemaking process at its Malaga site on Hamlin Road.

Last year, Saint Laurent for the first time processed its grapes at its facility in Quincy.

Owner Mike Mrachek said this morning that the tasting room will remain open pending the appeal.

"I don't know where he's coming from on that one," Mrachek said this morning by phone of Kottkamp. "We are a winery."

The winery's existing conditional use permit allows events for up to 150 people, with nonamplified music and singing.

Since 2005, Saint Laurent has hosted outdoor weddings, concerts and special events. Many of the events have included amplified music, despite the restriction, Mrachek said.

John Guenther, community development director for Chelan County, said neighbors had complained about the noise.

The Mracheks — Mike and his wife, Laura Mrachek — hoped for approval to continue with the amplified concerts, as long they installed equipment on the site to monitor noise levels.

They also requested increasing the permitted number of guests at their events from 150 to 200, and that they be allowed to prepare food onsite. Currently food at all events is prepared offsite by a caterer.

Kottkamp denied all the requests, ruling that they weren't consistent with the conditional use permit on their land zoned commercial/agricultural.

Guenther said Chelan County commissioners are considering an appeal of Kottkamp's interpretation of "winery," as described by county regulations.

"They've kind of outgrown their permit," Guenther said this morning by phone of Saint Laurent. "Commissioners have given me permission to investigate an appeal. One of the legal challenges we have is to be sure we're fair within the community."

Mrachek said weddings are still scheduled and business should continue as normal, but without amplified music, at least until the appeal is resolved.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenworld.com