Whether you’re a brand new wine lover, an established oenophile, or just a self-proclaimed wine fanatic, an all-inclusive wine event, regardless of experience, should be at the top of your to-do list.
A wine tour is the perfect way to travel, discover your favorite type of wine, get the insider scoop on how they’re created, and even create your own. As exciting as this sounds, planning these trips shouldn’t be a hassle. Here are some tips to make your wine tour planning as light and as efficient as possible.
Find the Perfect Destination
Do you plan to go international? Stay in the United States? Cross the state borders? This is a good time to do your research about where you’d like to go.
Research shows that California makes about 81% of all U.S. wine and is the world’s 4th leading wine producer. It makes perfect sense that some of the best wine tours happen right here within United States borders, specifically in southern California.
Take some time to find out what each winery offers, how much it will cost if their packages are all-inclusive, and how this affects where and how long you’ll be staying. Speaking to a representative from your personal list of wineries will help you make this decision.
Consider the Season
This is a huge factor to consider when planning your wine tour. Late spring through the fall is one of the busiest times of the year for the wine tour and tasting industry, but also the best. Early September bookings assure that you’ll get a chance to experience the harvest season, but should be sought out way ahead of time.
Winters should not be ruled out. However, wineries may have shorter times and fewer offers than they do during their busy season. Take some time to think of which season you’d enjoy the most.
Set a Budget
Whether you’re planning to travel or keep it local, wine tours cost money. For the former, travel documents, transportation tickets, and more will be needed. If you’re looking towards a local wine tour, contact the wineries or do some research to find out what their pricing is like. It might be much cheaper than expected.
Book Your Trip in Advance
Your best bet to avoid any disappointments would be to book your trip ahead of time. Last-minute bookings can lead to a lot of confusion and unforeseen circumstances. It’s advised to book at least a month before, especially in the busy seasons.
Follow a Winery Plan
Wine areas usually have tonnes of wineries in clusters. Finding out which ones fit your preferences and is the first part of a good winery tour plan. Small wineries are usually family-run and have a warm, inviting atmosphere. Bigger wineries are usually owned by bigger international companies. These are much easier to find and a little more exclusive than the former.
Along with the kind of wineries you’d like to visit, take into consideration how much time you’d like to spend at each one. For the best experience visiting two wineries in one day gives you ample time to enjoy the tasting, talk to experts as well as other visitors and even grab a couple of local bites.
Food and Wine
Drinking without food doesn’t sound a bit appealing, and no one wants to travel with hungry friends.
Many wineries tend to have small snack items on hand, but making food a priority on your trip is the perfect addition to a wine tour. Make sure to make your reservations ahead of time!
A 2017 study by tourism management perspectives that focused on wine tourists in the United States showed that about 93% of wine tourists enjoyed participating in other sightseeing activities and attractions that weren’t directly related to wine tasting.
Getting Around
Planning to visit wine areas can involve lots of traveling from winery to winery. Hiring a personal limo or charter bus can make this part of your trip as seamless as possible.
Limo services are reliable, punctual, and professional and can be booked to stay with you or pick up and drop off your party throughout the duration of the trip. Charter buses are a better option for bigger parties and are best reserved online beforehand.
Enjoy your Tour to the Fullest
A huge key to enjoying your trip is to start your day as early as possible. This way, you can avoid the large crowds and have a better chance of one on ones with the wine professionals.
Take some initiate and explore beyond the wines that you already know. All winemakers have their own kind of winemaking, so no two wines will ever taste the same.
Book Your Wine tour
The purpose of a wine tour is to have fun with friends and family while exploring the beauty of making wines. Exploring new areas and sampling wines you might not usually try is also a great addition. With proper planning, these tours can be a breeze. It’s important to gather as much information as possible so you can guarantee a great time on your trip.
Be sure to keep track of all important information make the most of this adventure.
If you’re planning your next wine tour and are looking for a way to get around, check out our service’s page for our various car, fleet limo, and charter bus rentals.