Privacy Policy

1) Information We Collect

• Personal Information you provide directly, such as name, email, profile details, and account credentials.
• Content You Submit (e.g., reviews, ratings, photos, comments, messages).
• Usage Data such as IP address, device and browser type, pages visited, referring/exit pages, and timestamps.
• Cookies & Similar Technologies for authentication, preferences, analytics, and site performance.

2) How We Use Information

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Services.
• Publish and display user-submitted content.
• Communicate with you about your account and the Services.
• Enforce our Terms of Use and protect against misuse or fraud.
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.

3) How We Share Information

• Service Providers: Vendors assisting with hosting, analytics, customer support, and security.
• Legal & Safety: To comply with law, protect rights, safety, and the integrity of the Services.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

We do not sell your personal information.

4) Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to remember preferences, authenticate users, and analyze traffic.

We may also allow third-party analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics, Meta) to use cookies and similar technologies on our Services to help us understand usage and improve performance. These providers may collect information about your online activity over time and across different websites and services.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may limit certain features. Some analytics providers offer their own opt-out mechanisms (Google Analytics, Meta). If we engage in practices that constitute “selling” or “sharing” personal information for targeted advertising under applicable law, we will provide a clear mechanism to opt out (e.g., a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link).

5) License to Submitted Content

When you submit content to the Services (including reviews, images, text, ratings, and comments), you grant American Winery Guide and Sitient, LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable license (with the right to sublicense) to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, and display such content in any media, for any purpose related to the Services. Where permitted by law, you waive any moral rights or rights of attribution.

We may remove, edit, or refuse to publish submitted content in our sole discretion.

6) Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information. No security measure is perfect, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7) Data Retention

We retain information for as long as necessary to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. User-submitted content may be retained and displayed at our discretion, even if your account is deleted. We may also retain limited personal information after account deletion where necessary for security, fraud prevention, or legal compliance.

8) Your Choices & Rights

• Account Information: You may request updates to your account information by contacting us.
• Communications: You may opt out of non-essential emails by using unsubscribe links or contacting us.
• Preferences & Cookies: You can manage cookies in your browser. Some analytics providers offer their own opt-outs.

9) U.S. State Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live (for example, in California, Colorado, Virginia, and other U.S. states with privacy laws), you may have some or all of the following rights regarding your personal information, subject to applicable law:

• Access & Portability: Request confirmation that we process your personal information and, in certain cases, obtain a portable copy.
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccuracies in your personal information.
• Deletion: Request deletion of personal information we collected from you.
• Opt-Out: Opt out of (i) targeted advertising, (ii) sale or “sharing” of personal information (as defined by applicable law), and/or (iii) certain profiling for decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
• Non-Discrimination: Exercise your rights without receiving discriminatory treatment.
• Authorized Agent (CA only): In California, you may use an authorized agent to submit requests, subject to verification.
• Appeal (e.g., CO/VA): If we deny your request, you may appeal our decision by contacting us as described below. We will explain our reasons and how you can further escalate if you remain dissatisfied.

How to Exercise Your Rights: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Privacy Request.” Please tell us which right(s) you wish to exercise and include information sufficient for us to verify your identity (and, if applicable, your agent’s authority). We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law (generally 45 days, extendable when permitted) and will inform you if we need more time.

Opt-Out of Targeted Advertising / Sale / Sharing: If and when applicable to our practices, we will provide a clear mechanism to opt out (e.g., a site link labeled “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information”). You may also email us at the address above to make an opt-out request.

10) Children's Privacy

The Services are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 21 (or the legal drinking age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 21. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

11) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Effective Date" above reflects the date of the most recent changes. Your continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.

12) Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy?

Email: