2. Take Notes especially if you are gone all day. Most wineries offer a list that will assist you on keeping track. When you get home to your local wine shop, you will appreciate having a cheat sheet.

3. Visit during off season. November through May is an excellent time. You might be only one of few guests all day, so staff can give you some extra time.

4. Ask Questions. Winery staff love to be engaged and help educate. They are trained to know a lot about wines you taste.

My sister-in-law makes these, and they sell them at school events to raise money for parochial school where her son is enrolled. She says they "sell like hotcakes." Suggested price: 2 for $1. If you want to make gifts for people for birthdays or Christmas or other special occasions, or as party favors, coffee spoons work well for that too.

• Ordinary plastic spoons

• Bars of Hershey's chocolate

• Hard peppermint candy or, for something different, try dinner mints

• Saran Wrap or other plastic wrap

• Short pieces of ribbon

Melt chocolate. Dip plastic spoons in chocolate. Lay spoons on wax paper. Before chocolate sets, place a mint in middle of spoon.