PORTSMOUTH — After holding weddings and events at Greenvale Vineyards for the past seven years, the owners have been ordered to get a ruling from the Zoning Board of Review of whether or not these events are allowed under zoning regulations.

The 68-acre vineyard at 582 Wapping Road falls under R-40 (40,000 square-foot minimum lots) residential zoning. Owners Nancy Parker-Wilson and William Wilson, of Boston, have operated the vineyard for 10 years, land that has been in Mrs. Parker-Wilson’s family since 1863, she says.

Questions — and neighbors’ opposition — arose last fall when Greenvale Farm, LLC filed with the Planning Board to construct a winery that would allow the vineyard to make the wine on the premises, instead of trucking it to Newport Vineyard which rented its equipment to Greenvale Vineyards. The planning board directed the Wilsons to file for a building permit, which is still under review.

Neighbors continued to press their concerns about noise and traffic generated by events at the vineyard. Last winter, the assistant town planner reviewed the complaint, and ruled that as an “occasional” event, weddings held at Greenvale Vineyards are permitted under the town’s zoning ordinance.

Nancy Howard, a neighbor of the vineyard, appealed the assistant town planner’s decision to the zoning board. The zoning board upheld the appeal, unanimously ruling that the assistant town planner does not have the authority to decide what “non-agricultural” activities are allowed on farms that are not specifically listed in the ordinance.

Now it is up to the zoning board to decide whether Greenvale Vineyards is permitted to hold weddings and large events, and if so, a special use permit is needed. The owners have filed for a special use permit to hold “weddings, receptions, corporate functions, banquets and the like.” A hearing has been scheduled for the zoning board meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 17 at Town Hall.

“It had never been determined if the use was allowed or not,” James Nott, zoning board chairman, said. “The only one who can decide that is the zoning board of appeals... So it has yet to be determined whether a wedding is allowed or not.”

Mrs. Parker-Wilson says the vineyard holds an average of 10 weddings each year, and has done so since 2001. Weddings are held outside at the rear of the property along the Sakonnet River, well away from neighbors, she says. The reception takes place either under a tent in the same area or in the tasting-room building. Typically, 150 people attend a wedding there.

The vineyard has been holding weddings and some other large events with the understanding that they have the ability to under the state’s Right to Farm Act, Mrs. Parker-Wilson said.

“Weddings have been important to us. They generate about 10 percent of our actual income,” she said, adding that being able to hold events especially helps the business during winter months when fewer people drive in for wine tastings. The rest of the vineyard’s income comes from wine sales, about 90 percent of which is sold at the vineyard.

Ms. Howard, a resident of Dianne Avenue which is located across from the vineyard, said, “The resident opposition is united and growing.” The concerns are that “hundreds of people” will be attending these events where they will be served alcohol and entertained with live “amplified” music, Ms. Howard said.

“It is time for Greenvale Farms to respect the fact that they enjoy only the same rights and privileges granted to other residents in our neighborhood and community,” Ms. Howard said. She added, “The residents of Portsmouth should not be forced to forfeit the protection of zoning ordinances for the benefit of one family or one corporation.”

Mrs. Parker-Wilson said that she has had no problems from neighbors — only twice asked to turn the music down in seven years — and that the town has had no objections to the vineyard holding events.

If the vineyard is granted the permit to hold events, “it will be just like the way it’s been for the last seven years,” Mrs. Parker-Wilson said. She does not plan to construct any facility to hold events (this is separate from the building permit filed to construct a winery). Business will go on as usual, she said. “We are not deviating from the fact that we are a farm.”

All of this exposure in the newspapers has given the vineyard a boost.

“With all the attention we’ve been getting, we’ve had many more visitors than usual,” Mrs. Parker-Wilson said.