Now, compare that to today's wine audience. Talk about the information age. Anybody can visit almost any winery anywhere. Sure, there are a handful that are closed to visitors, but even then, you can usually elbow your way in, if expensively, by joining a special wine-touring group. This is rare, though.
Most wineries welcome everyone.
California invented democratic wine-touring. This was radical. Old-time wine merchants harrumphed that their customers needed their expertise. It was paternalistic at best, downright snobbish at worst. Jeez, you can't get 'em to shut up these days.