Kids banned from N.J. winery after COVID brought families there in droves
Updated May 12, 2021;
A Mercer County winery that unofficially allowed children and families to visit has taken to social media to remind visitors that no one under 21 is allowed to spend time there.
The reiteration of Working Dog Winery’s official policy regarding underage visitors has prompted a flood of reactions from customers, with some applauding the owners’ decision and others criticizing the enforcement of the policy.
Mark Carduner, a co-owner of the Hightstown-based winery, said in previous years, families were allowed to bring their children when the weather was nice, spending time in the acres of well-maintained grass behind the tasting room.
New COVID-19 restrictions still give Pa. wineries some room to operate PennLive.com 12/12/2020 Paul Vigna, pennlive.com
The new coronavirus-related restrictions set down Thursday by Gov. Tom Ridge shouldn’t make much of a difference to a Pennsylvania wine industry that already has largely been operating outdoors and selling online and curbside since March.
“We have discussed and anticipated this as a possibility, so we are prepared to continue to use curbside options and sales for off-premise consumption,” Mario Mazza, general manager and enologist for Mazza Vineyards, one of the state’s biggest operations, said in an email Thursday night. The Mazza family has been making craft beverages at their Lake Erie location for more than 45 years and has grown to include five locations in western Pennsylvania and southwestern New York and dozens of products, including spirits and craft beers.