More wineries than ever are eager for wine enthusiast to drop by. Many of them plan special events during the summer harvest and wine routes are promoting their wine trails. Winemakers and winery owners are among the world’s most charming and interesting people. Even more the reason to pay them a visit.

Here are some tips, compiled by the Wall Street Journal, on how to visit wineries, with some suggestions for winery etiquette.

Hire a car or have a designated driver.

Chances are you will taste more wine than you expected to — those little tastes add up. Not only that, but if you’re not used to drinking wine early in the day (see below), it could catch up with you fast. In many of the newer wine regions, the wineries might be spread out, so you have some driving ahead of you. Various tour companies are popping up in wine regions all over the country that are happy to chart your visits to wineries and take you to them.

Take the kids, but find something for them to do.

Wine regions are very pretty around now, so green and lush, and winery people are nice, so it’s a shame for children to miss the experience. But tasting rooms can be boring for children, so ask right away if there are cookies or crackers, animals to play with or anything else for kids to do.

Go early, especially on weekends.

The thing that’s the most fun about a winery visit is chatting with the people behind the bar, who are often the owners or winemakers, especially at smaller wineries. They won’t have time to talk with you if it’s busy.

Be polite.

Yes, this seems obvious, but we’ve visited hundreds of tasting rooms over more than 30 years and we’re always amazed how rude people can be. In a smaller winery, you are likely to be in part of someone’s home and possibly talking to the owner. And you’re probably getting wine free, or for a small charge. Be nice, and show them the respect they deserve.

Keep wines out of the hot car.

A car that’s sitting in the sun will cook your wines in no time flat. Find a way to avoid that.