by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Island Time Wine currently operates a retail wine shop with a tasting room at 2407 Periwinkle Way. In July 2025, the City issued a Conditional Use Permit for the business.
The permit describes the approved use as a retail wine shop with a tasting room serving wine by the glass, snacks, and cheese/charcuterie boards, with 20 indoor seats, and it identifies the land use as involving on-site food preparation or processing.
The City’s Land Development Code does not currently establish a separate land-use classification for a retail wine shop with a tasting room (on-premises consumption of alcohol).
Instead, the Sanibel Code allows on-premises alcoholic beverage consumption primarily as incidental to the sale of food for on-premises consumption. Island Time Wine has asked the City to amend its regulations to recognize a retail wine shop with on-premises consumption and food service as a distinct use, rather than requiring the business to operate under the City’s existing restaurant-related provisions.
Generally, a business must meet a food-alcohol ratio and serve 51 percent food and 49 percent alcohol.
The business owners said, “We are asking for a reasonable modernization of the Code that recognizes a legitimate business model, preserves appropriate City oversight, and allows businesses operating under a Florida 2COP license to provide responsible on-premises wine service without being forced to operate as full-service restaurants.”
The request presents a policy question for City Council: whether the City’s Code should recognize a retail wine shop with limited on-premises consumption as a use distinct from a restaurant or bar/lounge.
If the City Council wishes to consider the request further, staff recommends referring the matter to the Planning Commission to evaluate the requested land-use classification, consider appropriate operating standards, and recommend amendments to the Land Development Code.
Council voted unanimously to refer the matter to the Planning Commission and also to waive the $6,624 in fees.
Island Time Wine is a great addition to Sanibel and provides something unique to the many restaurants. We have attended this business and enjoyed the quiet, social atmosphere and educational information provided by the owners.