My Facebook page was busy yesterday with friends in the Midwest and East posting about (and lamenting) the cold weather. No doubt about it: Winter is on the way!
I’ve always found that a good cure for the winter blues… even if they’re being experienced in pre-winter mid-November… is to look ahead to warmer days and start planning a wine country excursion.
Obviously, one of our blog followers has a similar mindset, and sent in the following note…
QUESTION: Our kids are 9 and 11, and we want to take them with us on our next visit to wine country. But I’m afraid there won’t be anything for them to do while we’re at a winery — and we’re definitely leaving the video games at home. Do you have any ideas for a family-friendly winery visit?
ANSWER: There are lots of things for kids to do in wine country — hiking, biking, fishing, etc. — but there are not that many wineries that cater to children.
This is understandable, since wine is an adult beverage, and the purpose of a winery’s tasting room is to sell wine to adults.
But at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sebastopol (Sonoma County), California, kids can sample grape juice during the harvest season (while their parents taste sparkling wine), and they also can go apple picking. There are more than 30 varieties of apples grown on the estate.
Be sure to call ahead (707) 887-1507 to inquire about available dates for these activities.
