Visiting a winery is fun. It’s also relatively inexpensive, and it can be very educational. There are more than 30 wineries in Indiana and a few more winery tasting rooms, and all of them are very hospitable and love visitors.

They all have on-premises tasting rooms that are quaint, attractive, and just all-around pleasant places to be. Each of them has its own program of allowing visitors to sample wines. Some tastings are free but many cost a token fee. In either case, the tasting program offers an easy way to sample a number of different styles and varieties of wines.

Nearly all wineries have gift shops, and a few offer wine-friendly snacks or light meals. Often you will meet an artist or musician on a winery’s grounds. And nearly every winery has staff willing to show you around the vineyards, the presses, and the rooms where the real work of wine production takes place.

Remember, however, that a winery is a place of business, and it depends on selling their products to succeed. Even if the tasting is free, you should buy one or two bottles as a courtesy for hospitality offered, and you should remember that a winery is neither a rest stop nor a party venue unless you have booked a special meeting room for a reception, wedding party, or other pre-arranged event.

One should be diplomatic when commenting about the wines. If you don’t care for a wine, say so, but avoid referring to it as “bad.” Try saying, “It’s not to my taste,” or “I find it a bit too sweet (or dry or whatever.)” But if you really do like a wine, say so. Like everyone else, wine producers love to hear their work praised.

One last thing. Do not forget that wine is an alcoholic beverage. Swallow too much, and your driving may become impaired, possibly illegal. Wineries provide “spit buckets,” carafes to allow you to spit out a mouthful after tasting it. You should not be embarrassed about doing so; professionals do it as a matter of course. So do all the employees of the winery. They will appreciate your doing so.

Wine production has become an important factor in the Indiana economy. Isn’t it great to have fun while providing an economic stimulus?