After visiting 400 wineries in the US, Canada, Italy and England, we have discovered each one is unique. Ultimately it brings about the question, just what is a winery? In general, a winery is a place that produces wine. This is so general it leaves many questions. To be a “real” winery, does a winery need to have vineyards? Is a facility that produces fruit wines a winery? If a facility is purchasing juice from across the country and producing wine, is it a winery? Or what if the facility has a franchise that ships juice to it, is that a winery? What about a building dedicated to making wine from kits and selling it to the public?

No matter what method they use to produce their wine, ultimately it is up to the winemaker to feel comfortable and happy with the way they are producing wines. With the exception of the home winemaker who is not allowed to sell wines, as long as the winemaker is pleasing the palates of their customers and providing great wine experiences, the government regulates the labeling and taxing of the wines, so it is presumed to be a winery.

What is important to the consumer who visits the winery is the quality of the wine and the experience in the tasting room. Enjoy your visit to a local winery.

Cheers! Kathy