Quarles: App Is 'Your Personal Tour Guide' to Kentucky Wines and Craft Beers

FRANKFORT (May 7, 2018) — The Kentucky Derby is over. Spring has sprung (finally). It’s time to get out and explore the Bluegrass State.

Your explorations may include some of Kentucky’s many small-farm wineries and locally owned craft breweries. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has a free smartphone app that will help you find what you’re looking for, record notes of the beverages you sample, and earn rewards as you visit tasting rooms and tap rooms across the state. The app, Drink KY, is a collaboration of the KDA, the Kentucky Grape and Wine Council, and the Kentucky Guild of Brewers.

“Any more handy and Drink KY would come with a corkscrew,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “Kentucky has dozens of thriving wineries and breweries that produce a wide variety of styles for every taste. The Drink KY app is your personal tour guide to these unique destinations.”

“Whether you’re looking for a semi-sweet Vidal Blanc, a robust Kentucky stout, or a place to relax with a good drink and good friends, Drink KY is the only app you need to drink it all in,” said Tyler Madison, the KDA’s Grape, Wine and Spirits program manager.

The app allows users to view winery locations in map or list format, with a filtering capability to view exact locations. When a winery or brewery is selected, Drink KY instantly provides the address, directions, hours of operation, and other pertinent information to help plan a tour.

Facebook users can log in with no username and password to remember. The virtual passport automatically verifies the user’s location, and they are notified when they are eligible for a prize.
Users are eligible for prizes after seven check-ins to Kentucky wineries or 10 check-ins to Kentucky craft breweries.

“Download Drink KY today,” Madison said, “and let your Kentucky winery and craft brewery adventure begin!”

To download the Drink KY app for Apple iOS or Android devices, visit your preferred app store.