Kids in Wineries

  Visiting wineries is for sampling alcohol. Quite a few people think of it as a family adventure. While there's nothing inherently wrong with kids in wineries, it can create problems.

Some wineries can be great for kids, but not all. Plan ahead
image from sonomacounty.com

  Mostly it depends on the age of the kids that determines if there might be an issue. Regardless of age, they will be bored. Some can stay occupied by a cell phone or tablet. It's the younger ones that are the likely problem.

  I've had my own dealings with bad parenting at wineries. I've had to essentially babysit to keep someone's kids from potentially dangerous situations while mom and dad are having a great time sipping wine.

   A year ago a winery in the Livermore Valley, east of San Francisco, instituted a 21 and over only for the weekends when they're really busy. This was apparently very unpopular with many parents on social media who had come there in the past and used their lawn area to sit and drink -- maybe while junior ran around screaming. The winery has stuck with that policy. Why did they do this? Because it's a burden on their staff and because of complaints from other customers.

  A number of wineries don't want kids. A few don't want anyone that's not tasting, so even an adult designated driver isn't welcome! I don't know of many places like this so far, and I see it as poor hospitality.

  This doesn't mean there aren't wineries that are fine with kids (there are a lot) or welcome children with activities (some). Choose wisely and check ahead of time to be sure the little ones are welcome.

  This isn't even addressing the question of should you be drinking and driving with children? There are restaurants that aren't good places for kids, there can be wine tasting rooms that aren't either. Be a responsible adult. If you really want to go wine tasting, get a babysitter. Yeah, same rules for your dog, though I will say most dogs behave better than most two-year-olds.

  I'm a parent, and there were places they didn't belong when they were young. Sometimes we learned the hard way, but we learned.