How often do you visit a winery that requires an appointment?

Prior to visiting a wine region, we spend days working on an itinerary, calling winery owners as well as the logistics of the journey before making travel arrangements. Decisions on which wineries to visit are based on numerous details. Details we consider include: days open to the public, distance from other wineries and contact with winery. In the past we have generally bypassed wineries, if they are only open by appointment. Our reasoning has been that if an appointment needs to be made, then the public and wine lovers will not have much incentive to visit the winery. Although we understand that some wineries are required to have visits by appointments only due to governmental regulations; how much if any business do they lose because wine enthusiasts cannot just drop in?

Today our rational for not visiting wineries, which are open only by appointment, has somewhat changed. We visited a boutique winery that is readying itself to open in the spring of 2013. Vineyards are in and wines are already in barrels. The owners are focused on producing only “serious” wines. They want to give the visitor a special experience of tasting quality wines with a winery tour. By scheduling visitors by appointment, they will be able to achieve a special experience for each visitor.

As a winery visitor would you make an appoint for a wine tasting or just stop at another winery with open hours?

Cheers! Kathy