6 Perfect Tips For Choosing The Perfect Wine Tour Destination
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There’s nothing quite as delightful as tasting some of the high-quality wines with stunningly beautiful vineyards in the background! Yes, this is about a vacation in one of the world’s great wine regions, a truly memorable wine adventure.
Wandering through vineyards, meeting winemakers face-to-face, and sipping a glass of wine on the grounds where it was grown gives you a better awareness of that area and its grapes. The wine tasting experience should be a fine balance of education and fun for the senses in such an attractive and natural environment.
For having the tour of a lifetime, it is vital to think about the destination itself.
Choosing the perfect wine tour destination will give you a truly personal experience. Once you get back home, you will keep wanting to talk about the winery and the wines!
Here are 6 perfect tips for choosing the perfect wine tour destination:
- Set your overall goal – Take time to think about the type of atmosphere you are looking for, and what you want out of your wine tour experience. The reason being that the overall goal of your trip would play a key role in choosing a destination.
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For instance, if you are looking for a romantic getaway to share a bottle with that special someone, then the Napa Valley in California pairs best with romance. With the Californian weather and the stunning natural scenery year-round, the Napa Valley features more than 450 wineries that grow leading grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon. Picnics in vineyards, romantic wine caves lined with oak barrels, white-tablecloth gourmet meals, and even hot-air balloon rides at sunrise all play a part in setting the mood.
Sneak away with your sweetheart to one of such idyllic retreats!
If history is your thing, then travel back in time to preserved 19th- century farm vineyards. Else select some of the oldest wineries in the world to learn interesting facts about their ancient founders.
A history buff’s dream destination, the French island wine region of Corsica is also the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, a French dictator of the early 19th century.
If food is your first love, then you ought to choose from food and wine vacation hotspots. Some of these wineries also brew craft lagers like Grolsch beer. Who would deny the double treat!
- Step outside your comfort zone – Seek new experiences by relating your life to your wine tour. It means stepping outside your comfort zone or pushing yourself to try new things.
For example, if you live a busy and hectic urban life, then you should make it a point to choose a dissimilar environment. A wine tour destination with an open and peaceful countryside could fit the bill.
Also, if you live inland, i.e. far from the beach, then a wine tour to a vineyard with scenic beaches would be an outstanding choice.
- Think about the types of wines you like and want to try –
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For wine lovers, a trip to prominent wineries that serve old favorites like sherries and also offer the chance to taste new types of wine can truly make a lasting impression.
In case you have your mind set on particular tastes of wines, then head straight for those wineries catering to your preference.
For instance, if smoky and spicy red wines are your thing, then you should choose a destination like Carménère in Chile. If fruity goodness and citrus flavors appeal to you, then take a summer wine trip to Barcelona. If you are planning to enjoy Christmas parties at wineries with sparkling wine cocktails made of dry curacao, then the French wine regions would be a great choice.
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If you want to go for a rich and flavorful Grenache, Paso Robles is the place to be. A Californian city famous for its wineries, Paso Robles is the perfect wine tour destination for a laid-back experience, especially for couples. At Paso Robles, you can also grab a bottle of Stella Rosa black to add to your luxurious collection of wine.
It’s ideal to visit this charming downtown during summer, particularly, early or late in the season, and at the time of the fall grape harvest. Paso Robles gets crowded during the wine festivals such as Zinfandel Festival in March and the Wine Festival in May, however, you can enjoy here all through the year. You can enjoy tasting Syrah and Mourvedre wines for free at many of the hundreds of wineries in this city.
For a thoroughly delightful wine-tasting experience, try any of these favorite Paso Robles wineries:
- Vina Robles: This winery stands out with top-grade wines using rare grape varietals, a lovely gift shop, a beautiful amphitheatre and a wine-tasting room decorated with unique artwork. Occasionally, Vina Robles hosts fun-filled wine dinners.
- Justin: One of Paso Robles’ earliest and most respected wineries, Justin is sure to make you linger longer than you intended. The winery produces primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. Among the others produced are a few white wine blends and an excellent, dry rosé. The wine-tasting room overlooks the vineyards, so, you’d surely want to sit on the outdoor patio. If you want to get the full “Justin experience”, plan to indulge in wine-tasting, dinner, and book an overnight stay at JUST Inn, the on-site accommodation.
On the other hand, for newbies or people who aren’t totally comfortable with wine, it is best to opt for smaller wineries that normally produce craft wine. Here they can taste wines as well as spend some quality time with the winemakers behind the bar, asking them questions about wine and winemaking.
What’s more, the pretty views of the vineyards provide the perfect ambience for the beginners to get into a lifelong relationship with the wines.
- Consider the time of year – While choosing the perfect wine tour destination, the time of year is certainly an important factor to keep in mind.
Some destinations like Sicily (Italy), with their breathtaking ski slopes and rich red wines to warm you up, are good options for a winter wine tour.
Great choices for spring and summer are La Bella Campania in the Italian city of Naples, and the Spanish province of La Rioja respectively.
Autumn is a wonderful time to visit the French region of Bourgogne, what with the marvelous autumn colors on the vineyards and the region’s rich stock of world-famous red and white wine varieties.
- Set Your Budget – Last but not least, how much you plan to spend on your wine tour would greatly influence your choice of the destination, i.e. budget-friendly or luxury. The total expenditure would include travel costs, paid visits to the vineyard if applicable, accommodation costs (in case of overnight stays), costs of wine tasting, and any other purchases at the destination.
If you’re touring on your own, you’d end up spending very little. However, expect to spend more on wine tours arranged through a tour operator.
The area that you’re touring greatly determines the final cost. For instance, a one-day trip that covers several wineries in the Sonoma Valley (California) costs slightly more than $100, while a two-week tour through the French city of Bordeaux will cost you in the thousands.
- Be Tech-savvy – How about visiting the poshest vineyards using modern robotic machinery that mimics human feet!
For instance, Château Mouton-Rothschild, a wine estate in France uses such amazing technology to remove weeds from vineyards.
On reading up these tips, leave no stone unturned to ensure that you make the apt choice of your wine tour destination. With proper planning, such tours can be truly fun-filled experiences. In fact, more than just visiting a winery, staying at one can be even more enthralling.
If you are planning to stay overnight or even longer on the grounds of a vineyard, then pack smart and make it a point to spare some space in your luggage racks to get some bottles of fine wine back home.
A special thanks to Harold Camaya for researching and submitting the above post.
