California Wine Tour

Touring California’s wine country is not only a perfect vacation or weekend getaway from work, but it is also a great way to learn more about the wine you drink, where it’s grown, and how it’s made. There are many things to consider when planning your California wine tour, so planning ahead is a must to get the most out of your trip.

Where to go

From Mendocino County down to the Santa Rita Hills and everything in between-there is a lot of ground to cover, and near impossible to do in one trip. So you have to ask yourself what region do you want to visit, and why. If you are a big fan of cabernet sauvignon, then Napa is the place to go with many of the wineries on the main highways making it easily accessible. If pinot noir is your cup of tea, then perhaps heading down to the central coast (where Sideways was filmed) would prove to be more fruitful for you. If the more rustic locale is your preference then spending some time up in Anderson Valley in Mendocino County is a must-see. Done Napa before and prefer something a little more off the beaten path and not as crowded? Then head to Sonoma County to try the many different appellations and wineries in a beautiful setting with great restaurants just around the corner. Once you choose a location to go to, it’s time to start planning where to visit on your California wine tour.

Wineries

If you’re a wine fan, this is the reason to go on the tour of California wine country after all, right? Sure, but given that there are over 150 wineries alone in Sonoma County for example, you can’t possibly go to every single one. You have to narrow the list down. Go to the wineries that make wine that you like to drink to start with. Ask friends or coworkers that have traveled to the area you’re visiting if they have any recommendations—they usually will. Ask for a map, too…they have them, and they are free. Once you get a few to start with, ask the person behind the bar if they have any recommendations. People who serve wine live in that area, and know many of the wineries that may be off the beaten path, or that may offer some interesting things to do (i.e. food pairings with wine, tours, or some other unique experience). Those tasting room personnel are a resource, so use them.

Tasting

The question “how many wineries can I visit in a day” is probably one of the most frequently asked. Five to six in one day is a good number for a couple of reasons:

1. It gives you a chance to take a comfortable pace and not feel rushed to dart from winery to the next…you can’t enjoy yourself and defeats the purpose of really experiencing what each winery has to offer.
2. It keeps the intoxication factor down. After all, you are tasting alcohol, so do it responsibly.

Since many wineries offer a host of different wines to taste, try picking a couple of wine varieties to taste and stick with tasting only those throughout the day. Another idea would be to spit. That may sound a little odd, but every winery has spit buckets, and do not be afraid to ask for one…they are called spit buckets for a reason and it is very acceptable to actually spit into them.

Other Things to Consider

If you are planning to go with a group of people, perhaps renting a car and driver would be the best way to go. That way you have a designated driver and there will be no worries about driving. Be sure to plan ahead and verify that the wineries you are visiting will take larger groups (eight or more). Some do not allow limousines or large groups at all.

Make sure that if you have a winery in mind that it is actually open to the public. Nothing can be more disappointing than to find your favorite pinot noir producer is not open to the public for tasting.

Plan or bring a meal if you taste all day. It’s a nice break and the food will help you continue tasting for the rest of the day.

These basic steps can help you enjoy your wine tour of California more effectively. Plan ahead, and enjoy.

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