Dans Papers - May 25, 2007 -Families and Wineries Do Mix

Next week, my son Jackson will be four months old and--as any parent can attest--life sure does change when you have your first child. Schedules change, free time erodes and priorities shift significantly. He's the center of our lives these days, that's for sure. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

But, that doesn't mean that we have to totally lose ourselves. And, for my wife and I, that means that we still spend plenty of time on the East End, buying flowers, stopping at farm stands and, yes, visiting wineries.

Right now we're lucky--he's little and mostly sleeps in his car seat as we taste through current releases or sit out on one of the many beautiful decks overlooking the vines. Other tasting room visitors always stop and tell us how cute he is (he is) and how well behaved he is (he's that too). But I've been thinking a lot lately about how their goodwill might change as he gets older.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who think it's "not right" to take kids to tasting room. "You shouldn't mix kids with alcohol" they'd probably say. If you think that way, I'd invite you to stop reading this column because you're probably not going to like the rest of it.

I think that's baloney and very, very closed minded. (I warned you to stop reading if you feel that way, right?)

A couple years ago, Bob Palmer, owner of Palmer Vineyards and current president of the Long Island Wine Council told me, when we talked about how family friendly his winery is that inviting children into the tasting room "helps show children that there is nothing wrong with moderate wine consumption." And you know what? I think he's absolutely right.

Throughout wine-producing countries the world over, wine is as commonplace on the supper table as bread or water. Kids are often poured small amounts of wine that is usually diluted significantly with water. This sort of introduction to wine puts wine in its proper perspective. It's food to these people. It's not a cocktail. And, it demystifies the stuff. Maybe they are on to something. I think most would agree that we in America have many more alcohol-related problems in our society than in say France or Italy.

Of course, we're not in Europe, we're on Long Island. And I'm certainly not suggesting to anyone that they should give their children wine. Not only is it illegal, but it's a personal choice and I'm a big believer in personal choice and accountability.

So, if you're kids are well behaved, there are several wineries that offer lots of family friendly fun.

In addition to Palmer Vineyards, places like Martha Clara Vineyards, Jamesport Vineyards and Pugliese Vineyards all offer settings that are very kid friendly. They offer plenty of wide-open spaces for kids to roam and feature things like petting zoos, carriage rides, non-alcoholic beverages and live music. Of course it should come as no surprise that they are so family-oriented--they are all family run, as are many local wineries.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you're going to take your entire family to the wineries though. First, if you aren't sure if your kids are welcome--and there are some wineries who discourage kids in the tasting room--call ahead. It also might be smart to introduce your children to the winery world on a weekday or in the off season. Packed summer weekends might be tough.

The last and by far the most important thing is to remember that your kids are with you. Don't ignore them as they run wild and do not drink too much. Set a good example for your children. Moderation is the key and choose a designated driver before you leave your house.

I know that I'm the default designated driver for at least another five months. After all, my wife spent her pregnancy being one for me. It's only fair, right?