Blog 52 Smart Wine Tour Tips
You have decided to spend a day touring wine country but someone has informed you that it might not be as easy as you think. How do you make your day great? What can you do to create a memorable experience?
I suggest planning out your day prior to going on the wine tour. There are many people that just get in their car and go from one winery to the next. The only problem is that you need to get back and you may miss your favorites or ones that you have not been to before that are off the beaten path.
Each year when I head out to wine country, I plan out my entire itinerary. I call in advance to get any tours or tastings in to make sure that there is availability. It took me five years to get into Far Niente Winery. I finally had to beg them and I set up a tour for eight people well in advance. It was worth the trip. Some wineries you can get into with no problem and other wineries request that you ask in advance for your tasting. Caymus Winery will only take a few people at a time for their tasting and they do it at certain times; again, well worth the wait. Opus also works this way; however, you can go in their tasting room and pay for a tasting separately without a tour. Caymus and Far Niente are both gated and will not even let you on their grounds without an appointment.
Don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver if you are going to be drinking wine. Don’t speed in wine country. If you can, try to start your day early in the morning when it is best to have a tasting. Plan your tours with food in between the wineries that you will taste at. Drink water and water crackers in between each winery if you are actually drinking any of the wines.
Spit the wines that you do not like. You don’t have to empty your glass with each wine. Only drink the ones that you want to enjoy. There are plenty of wines to taste. Pace yourself when you taste and only try the ones that you really want to try.
Take time to eat a nice lunch by either packing a picnic lunch or sitting at a great restaurant that the area has to offer. For instance, in Napa Valley, I always eat at Rutherford Grill or Don Giovanni’s with some of my best memories made there. Food is an important part of my day and I want to make sure that I eat and taste in comfort.
More on how to pick your favorites…coming soon.
Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica
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