When you want to plan an excursion into wine country, it helps to plan your jaunt carefully to ensure that you get the most out of your visit.
It's common to include more than one winery in a single outing, often because these destinations are located within close proximity to each other.
Scope Out the Area First Learn about the entire area so that you can add every appropriate destination to your itinerary.
For different geographic locations, you will find a different production focus.
Different latitudes, climates, soils, and terrain all combine to produce unique wines with distinctive tastes.
For example, Italy, with its moderate climate and varying topography, has the distinction of producing vastly different products depending on the precise location of each winery.
Make Reservations It is important to schedule your time when you are on a wine-tasting tour.
To ensure a workable schedule, make reservations at each winery.
Resist the urge to overschedule yourself, because you will want to take ample touring time at each place.
If you feel rushed, you will not enjoy the experience.
For optimal touring, do not schedule more than three stops in one day.
This will enable you to have a lunchtime tour, an afternoon tour, and a dinner tour.
Plan Your Attire You will be on your feet and walking throughout the day, so plan your attire accordingly.
You may need an extra layer for warmth, so bring a light sweater or jacket.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to tour the outdoor vineyard areas.
Closed-toe shoes might be best to avoid the potential for dirt and weeds as you walk.
Find a Driver Winery stops usually involve imbibing of the fruits of the vineyards.
To enable you the freedom to sip as you please, enlist the aid of a friend or hire a driver to transport you throughout the day.
Even if you don't anticipate becoming intoxicated, it's easy to taste more beverages than you intended, which can result in tipsy driving.
Bring a Cooler If you intend to make purchases, put a cooler in the trunk to hold your precious bottles.
Leaving bottles in a hot car is a recipe for disaster, because heat will destroy them.
Temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit may lead to flavor damage, and temperatures over 80 degrees will begin to cook the liquid.
Instead, consider having your purchases shipped directly to your home instead of transporting them yourself.
Shipping is also ideal if you will by flying home eventually.
Airline requirements have specific restrictions for carrying alcohol on board.
Adopt an Adventurous Spirit Step outside of the ordinary and commit to trying unfamiliar and unusual beverages.
Even beverages that sound unappealing could turn out to be something that you enjoy.
If the winery has food available on site, consider partaking of a meal that includes unusual or exotic foods you don't typically eat.
Ask Questions Asking questions will enable you to learn as much as possible about specific vineyards, the beverages they produce, and the correct storage techniques.
It's okay to show that you don't know much about wine, because this is an ideal time to learn from the experts.
You might even learn valuable insider tips.
Enjoy your visit to vineyards and bring home plenty of tasty souvenirs from your excursion.