Watching the sunset as the crimson colors embrace the seamless vineyards would, of course, be in your bucket list. Wine is a versatile, classy, and elegant drink that makes our every day better. As a wine enthusiast, it feels like a part of yourself and our day to day lives as it lights up the day with its crimson colors. From a casual evening outing to relaxing long vacations, nothing feels complete to us without this burgundy drink to accompany. And the more we know about this drink, the more interesting it gets.
For every wine lover, walking through the vineyards, and getting to taste the finely crafted varieties is a dream come true. This way, you can learn more about the grapes, the various types, and processes, and most of all, experience a rich palette of wines authentic to the region freshly prepared. So, if you are longing to fill your travel diaries with some vineyard walks then, keep these top five tips in mind to create a wine tour.
1. Region matters:
There are various options of places that you can experience these wine tours. Hence start to narrow down the region first. While this makes the travel more organized, it is also important to remember that each region is popular for different kinds and varieties of wine. So, if you have any particular type of wine tasting in mind or preference for the area, then research to understand the right places that can offer you this experience.
There are various wine regions categorized broadly and thousands of sub-appellations within them. Begin from the country of your choice. From there you can narrow down to a specific sub-appellation or a few closely located. Look for personal blogs that brief you on the kind of experience you can expect from this place. Also, the type of tour you want matters. Are you looking for a wine tour with a bunch of friends or family or something romantic with your partner? This helps you locate the right places in different regions. Each region or vineyard offers different kinds of tour and experiences to the travelers and hence narrow down the right places that best fit your purpose.
2. Choose the best season:
Each region has a prime time flocked by tourists from around the world. So if you choose to experience it as one of them, then you need to look for these times in the year. Vineyard visits can be fun throughout the year, although most people prefer visiting during the top harvest season. The summers of northern and southern hemisphere occur at a different time of the year. Hence understand the right time specific to the region for you to narrow down on your visit. Avoid winter months for wine tours to make sure you have a comfortable journey and experience. Spring is the best season to visit most vineyards as you can see them budding.
The time of day of your visit also matters a lot. This is important during peak seasons because these vineyards see thousands of visitors every day during this time. Try to visit them early if you wish to talk more about the wine. Employees usefully enjoy discussions much early in the day because of the late afternoons when the place is busy. This way, you can also enjoy a comfortable dining experience, and cherish your drink well. Also, off-season visits especially midweek can be a great choice. Be careful while planning an off-season tour as some vineyards stay closed during this time.
3. Be open to new varieties:
Wine tours are all about enjoying exquisite flavors and learning more about this drink. So, the most important tip to make the best of your tour is to have an open mind about experiencing new varieties. It is natural to have favorite wines from the past but open your mind to try new wines. Every winemaker adapts to a new style of winemaking and hence, the taste of even common varieties vary. The same chardonnay may taste different when you try from different winemakers due to their unique style of creation. Keep these in mind and let your tastebuds do the picking. Enjoy every sip and let it tingle your palette to know the intricate details of your wine better.
4. Get ready to dine local:
Often the taste of the local wines is best experienced when paired with authentic local cuisine. This is the primary reason why many wine tours or tasting tend to place an overall experience that includes fine dining. This ensures you enjoy the experience completely. Squeeze in lunch between your wine visits in local restaurants and sample some local dishes. You can also use the on-site menu from wineries to get some amazing dishes to pair with your wine. If your wine tour or tasting does not include any meal, then plan ahead about your meal for the day. Look for a restaurant on the way to make sure you do not end up with an empty stomach. Wine tasting is not a good idea when you are trying so many varieties without any food in your stomach. It might make you nauseous or get you drunk too soon.
5. Plan ahead to buy if you like:
It is natural to want to pick a few bottles of your favorite variety to take home. The first tip to make sure this is a worthy purchase is to ask questions. Try to buy bottles that are not commercially available, if any. These are usually local flavors that might make an amazing choice to charm your house guests. Wineries tend to have a special “club” that is only available for a few months. They could even hook you up with some special varieties form their library. So ask the right questions to interact to bring such varieties out.
Another important point to keep in mind about purchasing is to make sure you have enough room to take them back home. Keep an extra luggage bag to accommodate these bottles, and safely take them home. You can alternatively add roof rack basket to your car to make sure you have space for your wine bottles in the car. This way, you have enough space to fit all your luggage and have a comfortable journey.
Spit or Swallow
Also, when it comes to the spit or swallow question, there is no right answer. Wine tastings are the only place where spitting this precious drink is socially okay. So, if you don’t like the drink or do not wish to get too drunk, then spit them without thinking too much. Spitting can also help you try more varieties and experience them individually better.
Plan your entire day to make sure you are ready to soak yourself in some amazing wine. Keep these tips in mind while you plan your next wine tour. This way you can cherish the best from the experience.
