Policies & Tips

Policies...

1. It's the Law: Each Brandywine Valley Wine Trail member reserves the right not to serve visibly intoxicated or otherwise unfit persons. Although our member wineries pour controlled amounts of their wines for tasting, sampling a variety of wines at member tasting rooms, if visited in close succession, can result in the unwitting consumption of a significant amount of alcohol. Therefore, if you intend to visit more than one member facility in a single day, we recommend that you employ a designated driver or limit your total wine consumption accordingly. For the safety of everyone, always consume responsibly.

2. Tasting Room Etiquette: Always conduct yourself in a way that is respectful of the rules of the house and the rights of others to enjoy their wine tasting experience.

3. It's a Tasting, not a Drinking. You will be poured small samples, so please don't ask to “filler' up”! Make use of your dump buckets, and if you plan on swallowing, plan on having a designated driver.

4. Children in the Tasting Rooms. The Tasting Rooms is an adult experience that takes place on working farms, active processing facilities, and busy parking lots:  if you do choose to bring a child, you will be required to accompany them at all times.

5. Buses, Limousines and Group Visits cannot always be accommodated by some wineries.  Groups of six or more are asked to call, a minimum of 48 hours in advance, to receive verification that the wineries your group would like to visit can accommodate you. For details, please view: Group Visits to the BVWT.

Tips...

1. Bring an Open Mind, and you will find greater pleasures. There are thousands of grape varieties in the world. Suspend old preconceptions, and you will allow your tastes and your palate to blossom.

2. Brandywine Pride. Get to know, and you will begin to appreciate, the unique qualities of Brandywine Valley wines. They're not going to taste like your father's California!

3. Choosing a wine. Ask yourself, what kind of foods do I eat? Seek out wines that match well with the foods you enjoy.  Those favorite foods will taste even better, and so will the wines.

4. Keep an Eye Out for Special Wines. Some wineries have specialties, as well as, wines that are available only by visiting the tasting room. When you stumble upon them there's only one thing to do — grab them for your cellars!

5. Stay Overnight. To get the maximum experience, consider staying overnight. The Brandywine Valley offers major tourist attractions, world class restaurants, as wells as charming B&Bs to stay in.

6. Visit Frequently. The wineries add new releases throughout the year, so the best plan is to visit during different seasons so that you can discover the just released — and you don't miss the favorites that are about to be sold out!