Wine tasting trips. Some of you have enjoyed one, or several, while others maybe none. Today, I’m sharing how Mark and I plan for and pull off our wine trips as part of the World Wine Travel group August topic: On the Road Again. Linda from My Full Wine Glass is our host. Curious? Read on!
Our Early Wine Loving Days
In the distant past when living in Chicago, I made frequent work trips to Sacramento, California. Sometimes over the weekend with wine loving coworkers and occasionally with Mark (he’d take Friday off and come for the weekend), we ventured off to the Northern California wine country. I knew of Napa and Sonoma, but also got to know the Amador and El Dorado County wine areas in the Sierra Foothills.
Back then, there was little need to make reservations. I was lucky as those cowiners took me to their favorite places. The more we could fit in, the better. The most wineries visited in a day was twelve. Lunch? We’d buy a sandwich and eat between visits.
Because it was over the weekend, well-known wineries were busy, yet we nudged our way up to the bar and tasted away. Designated driver? Well, sort of, but questionable.
Changing Wine Ways
I was thrilled when transferred to my company’s Sacramento office. The first year, we continued our ‘pack in as many wineries as you can’ style, touring, but mostly tasting away.
As my interest in learning more about wine grew, that style slowed. Winery tours increased, as well as learning specifics about the winemaking process. Reservations were required, and we still mostly ate on the fly.
Our increased level of wine seriousness spilled over to designating a driver. And because our work lives were intense, we preferred planning all winery visits, determining where to pick up lunch and savor our time in the wine country, versus winery speed dating. You get my drift here?!?
Along with that seriousness, the character of where we tasted became important. I don’t care to pull up to a crowded winery tasting bar where the employees are trying their best to help and answer everyone’s often slurring questions.
Our Contemporary Style
Having done more winery tours than I can count, what’s most important to us now is the personality of the winery. I look for people who care about the land and their region, and who make interesting wines while acknowledging tradition. Because of this, we plan all trips to make sure we visit those who have something engaging to share.
Also, one thing we picked up on while visiting Argentina and Chile a while back was winery lunches. Many wineries worldwide now have an on-sight restaurant offering lunch and sometimes dinner. This is a fantastic way to taste through a producer’s wine with exceptional food pairings.
In addition, Mark and I are big fans of no more than three wineries a day: one in mid-morning and one or two in the afternoon. In the evenings, we choose a smaller restaurant (preferable) that serves local wines and foods. A certain sense of freedom comes from letting go of your food ideas and immersing yourself in what foods grow in the area, popular dishes, and how restaurateurs pair area provisions.
Now that you know our style, here’s an example from a past Douro Valley trip.
Bruno arranged three visits, plus a winery lunch each day. Alves de Sousa and the tiny Mafarrico were two of the wineries visited.
Let’s Have Lunch!
After our tour at the organic and biodynamic winery Quinta Nova, lunch in their Terraçu’s Restaurant was spectacular. As you might imagine from a winery restaurant, each dish was paired with a different wine. So relaxing, so delicious! Click on any photo below to see a larger version.
We were in the Douro four days and will return as there is so much to see and so many producers to visit. If you haven’t been to the Douro Valley, I recommend adding it high on your list.
I hope our planning tidbits are helpful and as always, you are welcome to reach out with any questions. In the meantime, please enjoy other World Wine Travel blogger articles to get a feel for how others plan and execute trips.
•Regenerative Organic: Farmed Like the World Depends on It + the Feral Wines of Tablas Creek by Camilla at Culinary Cam
•Exquisite Sips and Sailings: Carnival Cruiseline Wine Package by Terri at Our Good Life
•On the Road from Paris to Champagne” by Jeff at Food Wine Click!
•A Dreamy Day Trip to Rioja from Balboa by Deanna at Wineivore
•Soaking In Wine Country – How to Do it Right! By Robin at Crushed Grape Chronicles
•Travel in Tuscany: From Rome to Altura at Isola del Giglio and La Maliosa at Saturnia and back by Gwendolyn at Wine Predator
•At home and abroad, all roads lead to wine by our host, Linda at My Full Wine Glass
I find that only hitting 2 or 3 wineries when on a road trip is much preferable. I have done road trips where we have hit several more than that and once we’ve had tastings at two or three the wines all run together.
Agree with you Wendy. And not only the wines, words start to run together too!
I loved reading this and seeing the pics! I Don’t know if I can trust the review of the winery where the guy seems to be holding a knife and making Mark smile!
wine travels with so much knowledge beforehand and guides must be dreamy
Love,
Kay
Seems a bit sinister yet no knife involved! Tickled you enjoyed this Kay, thanks!
I especially loved this blog! Gaww, I miss you two! Cheers to living your best life!
Xo,
Stacy
Awe, glad you enjoyed it. A definite cheers to best lives!
I love the evolution of your wine-tasting experiences. It seems relatable to what most people go through as they taste and then get sucked into the wine world, where there is so much to learn and explore.
Your trip to Portugal sounds wonderful! Those food photos are stunning, and I love the one of you and Mark!
Thanks Robin! Yes that evolution… and it continues to evolve with us.
I can relate to this evolution in style when visiting wine country Lynn. Love the pics, especially of you and Mark. 💜 We tok we’re forever changed by a winery lunch in Argentina.
I remember reading about your lunch on that trip but don’t recall the winery. They do fantastic lunches in Mendoza and ARG!
You’re living the ultimate wine-epicurean lifestyle. Keep going. Keep sharing. Keep enjoying this life you’re creating. Cheers!
Always moving forward, many thanks and cheers to your doing the same!
Interesting that as you gained in wine knowledge and experience, you packed fewer visits into a trip. Shows maturity. We visited the Duoro this past June, stayed at guesthouses and tasted some delicious family wines that weren’t even for sale. So much to explore in this region. I’m guessing Alves de Sousa is unrelated to Vieira de Sousa?
Smarter planning comes with maturity, thanks Linda. The two wineries are unrelated.
We have followed much the same process as you and ended up in a similar place in terms of less wineries a day. There’s nothing worse for us than having a wonderful time and feeling rushed to get to the next place (plus I get serious palate fatigue when a winemaker excitedly shows much more wines than are typically offered lol)!
Smarter planning comes with maturity, thank gosh as palate fatigue is no fun when you have a winemaker who wants to share all. Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated!
We are also big fans of fewer but very carefully chosen visits in a day. Plus, hiking, visiting villages, experiencing the place all become possible when we’re not running from one winery to the next.
We know we are compatible if we go on a trip together, thanks Jeff!
Definitely agree with no more than 3 wineries a day and hiring a guide/driver! I’ll have to add Douro to my list and Quinta. Nova as you suggested. The food looks spectacular, and the photo of you feeding Mark is so cute!!!
I know you will enjoy Quinta Nova when you get to the Douro. Thanks Deanna!
What a fun post! Interesting to read about change in tasting strategy—plus, we really want to visit the Douro Valley sometime. Thanks!
Thank you! The Douro is waiting for your return!