It’s been nearly a dozen years since Reverge Anselmo sold his winery, restaurant and surrounding property in the Inwood Valley east of Redding.
What’s happened on the property since the sale is kind of a mystery — through the former winery and surrounding property has recently been back on Shasta County’s radar.
Anselmo Vineyards still has a website. But the number for the winery and restaurant is disconnected.
There is a general number listed for information on its wedding venue and events. I left a message. I’m still waiting to hear back.
Shasta County Assistant Resource Management Director Lio Salazar recently told me his office received a complaint on the property that they are looking into.
“The Department of Resource Management has received a complaint alleging events being held at the property without permits; making wine, serving food, etc. and operating without a food facility permit. The complaint is currently under investigation,” Salazar said in an email.
He declined to say who lodged the complaint.
“With respect to the code enforcement process, information, including name, contact information, and/or other information related to the identity … is held confidential except as may be required to be disclosed by court order,” Salazar said.
A portion of the property was rezoned weeks before the property sold in November 2014 to allow a future hotel and spa and other buildings that were built by Anselmo, including a chapel, to obtain the required permits. The website still states that “the restaurant and wine tasting facilities remain closed to ongoing construction to meet county and state fire requirements.”
“The property remains under a notice of non-compliance for construction without permits as some unpermitted improvements remain at the property,” Salazar said.
At a March 2020 Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting during a discussion of hemp growing rules, Chris Cook, who said he managed Anselmo Vineyards, said they had cleared about 40 acres of property there in anticipation of growing hemp or planting more vineyards.
Anselmo had his admirers and detractors, and it was his protracted legal battle with Shasta County over permitting issues that played a big role in his decision to sell his winery in 2014 and move to the East Coast.
His vendetta against Shasta County financially influenced local politics as he opened his pocketbook to give millions to local candidates, helping the Board of Supervisors shift to the far right in recent years. That makeup is about to change with the recent election of Erin Resner, who defeated District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye. Resner takes office in January.
Former District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones, at his last meeting on the board in December 2024, singled out Anselmo for his financial help.
“There’s one person at the end that I would like a special thank you to because I would not have been here (if it were not) for my very good friend Reverge Anselmo. Without his help, the movement to change Shasta County would not have happened. This board would not look like this. The people that serve Shasta County would be very different,” Jones said.
Local builder putting stamp on downtown
Contractor Ryan Burks is leaving his mark on downtown Redding.
Burks, of Burks Construction management, gave the Shasta Historical Society a major face-lift after flood damaged the Market Street building. The new-look Historical Society recently reopened.
Now Burks’ company is taking the lead on the former Sim Nathan’s Shoes building at 1490 Market St.
Last November, Riley and Cassandra Breslin purchased the building with plans to move their Sensory Innovations business there and to open a café and play area, called The Grove Café & Playspace.
During a recent walk downtown, I stopped by the building where Burks was beginning work on the café and children’s play area, which is the first phase of the project.
Burks told me that The Grove Café & Playspace is expected to open early next year.
The Grove Cafe and Playspace will have a coffee bar serving: coffees, healthy elixirs, and small bites. The play place will consist of a fox den play structure (shown on the banner and is also the basis for the playing foxes logo) as well as a climbing structure. There will also be a smaller play area for toddlers,” Riley Breslin told me in June.
With the Breslins purchasing the entire building on the northwest corner of Market and Butte streets, the bookstore and escape room businesses that were there had to move.
Shop Around the Corner Books in the spring moved to a larger location on California Street next to Theory Coffee.
Recently, Extreme Escape Redding announced on its Facebook page that its last day in the building is Sept. 13. It had been there for 10 years. The business will continue at its Market Street location, according to the post.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Anselmo Vineyards holding unpermitted events? Redding cafe update
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
