Being that summer is finally here, it is time to put away our gloves, hats and long underwear and embrace the sun shining on our faces! And what better way to spend a lazy summer day than by touring your local winery or vineyard? Many people assume that if you want to visit a winery you have to travel far distances to the larger vineyards of the Napa Valley, the Loire or the Hunter Valley. Truth is, you don't have to travel very far at all to experience the wonder that is the winery, all the while at the same time supporting and giving back to your local community!

In saying that, sometimes people don't even realize that there are wineries right around the corner from their own homes. If you live in Florida, did you know that you have 10 wineries spread out all over the state? New Yorkers looking to visit a winery can find 53 of them in the Seneca Lake area alone. There are even wineries in places such as Ohio, Colorado and Hawaii. A quick search online for the winery closest to you is the first step in planning your perfect day trip or weekend away to a fantastic relaxing and fun winery trip!

For those who have never been to a winery, it is an experience unlike any you have ever had before. Walking on the grounds and seeing the rows of grapes on their vines is a truly picturesque experience. Most wineries will offer a tour upon your arrival that could involve anything from seeing the wine production process to viewing the barrels where the wine is stored before transportation or for maturation (if it's a red wine). Whether the winery has a tour like this or not, all wineries will provide some form of wine tasting of their more popular wines, whether they are red or white, sparkling or not. One of the staff from the winery will conduct the tasting and provide a description of the wines grapes and history before everyone takes a taste. There are of course bowls to spit out the taste so as not to destroy the palette for future tastings, but half the fun of a tasting is actually drinking the wine and not just "tasting" it! So not only is it fun, but also educational!

Once you've finished with your wine tasting and are hopefully still standing on your two feet, then you can wander round the shop at the winery to maybe pick up a bottle or two of a wine that you enjoyed during the tasting, or maybe find something new to experience. Whether you are a serious wine collector or you simply enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner occasionally, there is no reason that you should not buy the best and enjoy the pleasures as if you had a winery in your very own home.

So support your local community and instead of only going to a winery when on vacation, one day just pop down the road to your local winery and enjoy the splendour that they have on offer. You might be surprised at the quality of wine that can be found on your own doorstep!