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15 Tips to Plan the Perfect Wine Tasting Vacation

Planning a wine vacation (what we tend to call a wine tasting trip) is not without its challenges. Plotting the right course for your wine vacation is not only time-consuming, but with so many resources at your fingertips online, it can be quite overwhelming simply determining where to start.

How to Plan the Perfect Wine Tasting Trip in Any Region

To simplify both the planning process and your experience while you’re out wine tasting, we’ve compiled a solid list of “do’s and don’ts.” Essentially, this article offers some of the best tips for planning a successful wine tourism vacation — based on our editorial staff’s experience in planning and partaking in wine tasting tours around the world.

Figure Out How Much Time You Have for a Wine Trip

Before setting a budget or picking a region, you must figure out how much time you have available for the perfect wine travel experience. If you’re working full time, you may only have a week or two of vacation. Determining the length of your trip will also be a contributing factor when determining your budget, which we cover next.

RELATED: Browse and Book Wine Tours All Over The World

Set Your Maximum, All-Inclusive Budget

Deciding how much you’re willing to spend on your wine vacation is a quick way to narrow down your options.

If you’re strapped for cash, you might consider a domestic experience and visit an up-and-coming wine region like the Texas Hill Country , where travel, accommodation and tasting costs are relatively low.

If you have a little more money to burn, and still want to stay domestic, you could head over to one of the more pricey regions in California, such as Napa Valley .

Or perhaps you’re looking for a more authentic and exotic experience, such as wine tasting in Piedmont, Italy, Rioja, Spain or Bordeaux, France. Maybe you want to go as far as New Zealand! All of these are fantastic choices for venturing out and exploring the world through wine, but traveling abroad also tends to cost a bit more.

RELATED: 22 Amazing Wineries and Experiences To Enjoy in Rioja Spain

This is why it’s best to set a budget before you pick a destination, so you’re not disappointed in case you can’t afford your dream trip (yet). Be sure to consider location, timing, flight, transport, tasting, food and accommodation costs. If I’m flying to a new wine destination, I always  search for flights on Google Flights first and then use that cost as a baseline for wrapping my head around what ultimately the complete experience may cost. Then, I use Airfarewatchdog to send me flight deal alerts when a deal goes on sale immediately. Searching for hotels on TripAdvisor also helps to source the best price by comparing multiple travel sites.

Narrow Down Your Region

It kind of goes without saying, but an essential step when planning a wine tourism experience is to decide where you want to go. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of “broad” wine regions, within which thousands of sub-appellations exist. One could spend his or her entire life traveling and tasting wine and likely not be able to hit every sub-appellation around the world.

That being said, don’t be too ambitious in choosing your region.

First, start by picking a country. From there, narrow it down to a broad wine region within that country. From there, you can further narrow your trip to specific sub-appellations. Then, within those sub-appellations, you can begin to research individual wineries that suit yours and your fellow travelers’ personal preferences. Let me explain by using Spain as an example:

I’ve decided that I want to visit Spain for a wine vacation. I know that “La Rioja” is a famous wine-growing region within North Central Spain. After doing my research, I now know that there are three sub-appellations within La Rioja — Rioja Baja, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta. Now, let’s assume that I have one week allotted for my trip. Again, after doing my research, I know that that’s plenty of time to visit all three sub-appellations in some way shape or form. I may not be able to visit every winery within each sub-appellation, but I should be able to have a pretty immersive experience in each, given the amount of time I would have available to me.

You get the idea. If you have more than one week for a wine vacation, you might also consider visiting multiple “broad” regions within one or two countries. It’s dependent upon your individual situation.

Narrow Down The Kind of Experience You Want – Tips for Planning a Wine Trip

This is another great tip for planning the perfect wine tasting trip. Another way to further narrow down your options and cut through the exorbitant amount of red tape often involved with planning a vacation.

What are you looking to get out of this trip? Are you going by yourself, with a group, with a significant other or spouse? Are you trying to just get drunk? Are you looking for something romantic? Are you looking to integrate an active itinerary with adventure mixed in between tastings?

All of the above are great questions, and each should be answered before you move further on with planning your trip and deciding on individual wineries.

RELATED:   Discover Switzerland’s Most Beautiful Wine Regions

Select the Time of Year for Your Wine Tasting Vacation

For wine professionals, this is a common-sense thing to consider when planning a wine vacation. But as wine tourism in recent years has sky-rocketed to becoming one of the preferred styles of experiential travel, a lot of people are unaware that time of year can have a huge impact on your ultimate experience. Why? Well, for starters, depending on what hemisphere you’re looking to travel to, you might unknowingly arrive in the middle of winter.

RELATED: Advantages and Disadvantages To Visiting Wine Country During Each Season

The Northern Hemisphere experiences Summer generally between June, July, and August. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere experiences their Summer between December, January, and February. Also note that grape harvests in the Northern Hemisphere typically occur between September and October, while grape harvesting in the Southern Hemisphere generally occurs between March and April.

The above being said, consider what you’re looking to see in any given wine region and the kind of experience you want. If you want to experience a winery at harvest time, plan accordingly. If you don’t want to be cold, avoid the winter months. If Spring is more your thing and you want to see the vines just starting to bud, you’ll need to consider timing appropriately. You get the idea.

Consider Proximity (Airport, Hotels, Distance Between Wineries)

So now you’ve narrowed down your travel time, budget and general location. It’s time to get more specific.

First, depending on your preferred style of travel, it makes sense to plot a course in relation to how you travel. At this point, you should have a general idea of what flight(s) you’re taking and what airport you’ll be flying into. From there, you can begin to research wineries within whatever sub-appellations are closest to the airport. It’s best to begin selecting wineries, before booking hotels, as many wineries even offer accommodation options,  such as Marques de Riscal in La Rioja .

Proximity, in general, is critical to having a good experience. Maybe you’re looking to spread out your wine tastings to explore a landscape. Maybe you’re planning on drinking a lot so you’d rather not have to drive far. Or, maybe you’ve decided to have someone drive you around the entire time, which offers more flexibility and less worry. You also don’t want to end up dozens of miles from the nearest restaurant or hotel at the end of the day, so think about logistics throughout every step of your planning.

Consider Transportation Options

Taking proximity a step further, deciding on how you want to get around is critical to planning the perfect trip.

I prefer to drive myself and simply be cautious about how much I’ve been drinking when I’m winery touring. Others prefer to avoid this entirely and opt to use buses or pre-planned chauffeur services within whichever region they’re visiting. Additionally, some regions and specific wineries have dedicated guides, who will pick you up from your hotel, take you to lunch and a series of wineries within your preferred region.

It’s best to explore all of these options and be sure not to burn yourself out in one day. You can also mix it up, as we mentioned earlier. Drive yourself one day, use a guide the second day, etc. In any case, remember that ultimately you’ll need to eat, get back safely to your hotel and ultimately leave the region at the end of your trip. So again, think through logistics on a micro-level.

Tours vs. Tastings

Deciding on or mixing up Wine Tours vs. Wine Tastings is also a great way to narrow down your wine vacation experience. First, let’s define a wine tour vs. a wine tasting.

Wine Tours:  Generally, a guided tour by a winery employee or owner who takes you through their grounds and or vineyard property, which also includes tastings at the end.

Wine Tasting:  Generally, flights of wine are poured by bar staff at individual wineries (typically about 1 ounce), which allows the consumer to taste the varying styles of wine produced by the Vintner.

RELATED:   6 Different Wine Tasting Experiences To Try

First of all, some wineries don’t offer tours, so if you run into that you may already be able to knock some off your list. Secondly, wine tastings can be great, but they usually don’t provide a more emotional connection to the winery since you aren’t also visiting the grounds and learning about the winemaking process. Of course, there are many wineries out there that have excellent bar staff and can still offer a phenomenal experience.

A general rule for me on deciding on tours vs. tastings is two-fold. First, I look for wine tours at wineries that have exceptional grounds. A beautiful property is typically worth a tour as long as it isn’t too overpriced. Wineries that have smaller grounds and or unimpressive scenery may make more sense for simply tasting. Keep in mind, just because a winery may not have the most beautiful architecture, landscape or views doesn’t mean that they aren’t producing fantastic wine.

Second, I think it’s critical to try both tours and tastings. Based on the criteria I mentioned above, do your wine tours at fancy or well-known properties, and simply taste at the less impressive ones. This allows for a flexible, more immersive experience.

Reservations

So now you know the difference between a winery tour and a wine tasting. Keep in mind that as you continue planning your trip, you’re also going to need to figure out whether or not reservations are required for a visit in general. Many corporate  and  mom-and-pop wineries only allow visiting when a reservation is made. Conversely, many allow you to simply show up and say “I’m Here, Let me drink.”

Depending on the research you’re doing into visiting a region, you’re probably going to find both. You’ll need to decide whether or not you feel the wineries that require reservations are worth the visit or not. Once you’ve conceded yourself to a reservation, you’re going to need to try your best to make it. For some, this can be stressful having to rush from appointment to appointment. Others prefer the structure. Figure out what kind of experience you want and then book accordingly. I tend to interchange reservations and non-reservation required wineries on most of my trips.

For instance, on the first day, I may just want the freedom to roam with no time constraints. On the second day, perhaps there’s an epic winery I want to visit which requires a reservation, so I stick to a more structured schedule.

Know Your Favorite Style(s) of Wine

Another way to further narrow down the best wine vacation experience is to plan your tours and tastings around your favorite grapes! Consider researching individual wineries, and if possible, buy some of their wines at your local liquor store to get a sense of what they craft. More often than not, wineries will have styles of wine that they’re known for, and you can potentially plan your wine trip based around grape varieties and or blends that you prefer. A good way to figure this out is to use a wine rating application, like Vivino, to scan for wines by a particular winery and see what other consumers have rated them as. If you know you love a good Cabernet Sauvignon, and a winery you’re considering makes a Cabernet but you’re not sure if the quality — look the brand up on Vivino and search for the Cabernet to see where it stands.

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Conversely, you may be a very open-minded traveler and taster, like myself. If that’s the case, it’s still good to know what kind of wine styles are your favorite. When you get to any given region, you can tell your guide or winery staff the style of taste preference you have, and they can attempt to match that flavor preference with a grape variety perhaps you didn’t even know about! It’s this sort of open-mindedness that makes both wine and travel fun.

Familiarize Yourself with What the Region is Known For

At this point in your wine vacation planning, you’ve probably learned a decent amount about whatever region it is you’re visiting. Below, we’ll quickly list off a few other things you should familiarize yourself with before your visit.

What grape(s) is the region best known for?

When does the region harvest their grapes?

Have I done my research on the general history of the wine region?

Should I familiarize myself with local winemaking practices so I can appreciate the region more?

What is the average cost for a bottle of wine in the region?

What is the average cost of a tour in the region?

What is the average cost of a tasting in the region?

Generally, how does ‘tipping’ work in the region?

Consider the Climate, Pack Accordingly

Again, touching on what we mentioned earlier regarding the time of year when planning a wine vacation — be conscious of the general climate and weather conditions. Make sure you pack appropriate seasonal clothing and also take into account driving conditions if you are renting a car.

Also, it makes sense to get a free Travel Insurance quote  from a trusted provider to protect yourself from any “What If’s” that may arise on your trip. It could save a lot of money.

Using a Guide to Plan it For You

There are several companies out there that offer all-inclusive, guided packages for wine tours all over the world. Additionally, many of the appellations themselves are essentially marketing hubs and can offer recommendations or pre-packed itineraries you can simply follow along with.

Having your wine vacation planned for you comes with both its ups and downs. On one hand, the logistics are largely taken care of. On the other hand, you may be sacrificing your freedom. This comes down to the kind of traveler you are. Make sure to research your preferred region extensively and search around for possible package options. Many regions also have their own websites, which often mention guides, travel agents or wineries you can contact ahead of time to book your trip for you. We list a number of guided wine tours right here that can be customizable.

Know Where You’re Eating Ahead of Time

At this point, there’s a good chance you’ve got your general itinerary down. You know where you’re flying into and out of, what wineries you’re visiting and where you’re staying. But did you select restaurants ahead of time? Many wine travelers are guilty of omitting or completely forgetting about eating. Trust me, when you’re out on the road in the middle of a beautiful landscape, it’s easy to forget. At the same time, you don’t want to be stranded and have no idea where to go eat. Locating a restaurant on the spot can be incredibly time-consuming. Be sure to research restaurants in the area and have them marked down on your itinerary, with addresses and phone numbers so you can quickly navigate and pull an audible if necessary.

Additionally, be sure to pack some snacks that aren’t too light. If you’re on a tight schedule, you may not have time to have as big a meal as you’d like. As you’ll be drinking, it’s important to keep a base of food in your stomach to slow the absorption of alcohol.

Bringing Wine Home with You

Many wine tourists stumble (literally) across a beautiful style of wine they tried at a tasting or on a wine tour. It’s very common for these consumers to want to bring a few bottles home with them. Consider this ahead of time, and either bring a suitcase that allows for wine storage while traveling or set some money aside in your overall budget to account for purchasing wine and potentially having it shipped home. If you’re looking for a good suitcase to transport wine back home with you, check out this highly-rated 12 bottle case .

Travel Connected

Some people are going to disagree with me on this. Many travelers prefer to be “unplugged” from their digital lives that they’re so consumed by at home. If that’s you, ignore this tip. However, I do advise having some form of connectivity when traveling, especially abroad. Having a GPS and or a general, interactive map can be invaluable to saving you both time and money as you navigate a foreign region. Also, you may get to a point where you don’t know where to eat, or you get a flat tire, or you run out of gas (which happened to me in British Columbia recently). Save yourself that hassle and have some form of an emergency contact. Many carriers, such as Verizon, now offer pretty great deals on getting service abroad. For as little as $10 a day in Europe ($2 / day in Canada), I was able to have access to 8 Gigs of data throughout my entire trip.

Read Reviews

At this point, your trip should be pretty much booked and you should be pretty excited. However, if you’re still unsure about certain aspects, don’t be afraid to look up reviews! Whether it’s of the wineries, hotels, restaurants, whatever you may be unsure about — reviews are incredibly helpful. We frequently review itineraries, wines and individual wineries here at Winetraveler, so keep an eye on our app — which integrates reviews from multiple sources.

You can also browse our database of wineries around the world and filter down to wineries in certain regions that fit your travel preferences.

Questions? Ask away in the comment section below! We’re here to help make your wine tasting vacation experience the best it can be.

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Leave a comment, ask a question or share a review cancel reply, comments ( 13 ).

It really helped when you mentioned how it is recommended to set up a budget when planning a wine tasting tour. I can understand that doing this can help you not only choose the best tour for your pocket but also make the most of it. My sister was talking about how she was planning a bachelorette party wine tasting, so I wanted to look into it.

Setting a budget is always a great starting point because it helps you determine the limitations of your trip from the beginning. From there, you can drill down realistically how many places you can afford to visit depending on the kind of experiences you want.

definitely a good part for my planing to wine tasting , thank you so much

No problem! Let us know if you have any more questions!

I like the planning tips you recommend in the article like making reservations and researching which wineries you want to visit. A lot of times you don’t have the time to see and taste everything. Be sure and determine exactly how you want to spend your time.

Yes! Before planning any wine vacation it’s best to go into it with your travel preferences in mind. Research can be a pain, there’s a ton of information out there. But luckily here at Winetraveler we help you plan your perfect trip in minutes :).

[…] the 6 main ways to go wine tasting at a winery and or vineyard so you can be prepared and better plan your next wine vacation. Note that these methods vary by winery, and every option we mention may not be available depending […]

It was really nice how you said that winery tour includes having the owner or a winery employee take the tourists around the grounds or through the orchard of the property and can include tastings in the end. So, I guess what I really do want to do is to have a winery tour. I like wine, but I’m not really into tasting every single wine available in the cellar. I just want to see and feel the atmosphere of a winery. Thanks! I’ll get myself scheduled for a tour right away.

Tours always provide a more intimate and custom-tailored experience. I really recommend them especially if you can speak with the the vineyard ahead of time, lock down a price and confirm the kind if experience you’d like. If you visit during the less trafficked months (Winter –> Early Spring), you can sometimes get them for free as a walk-in experience too.

[…] you are new to planning a wine vacation, you might be unaware of the right time for the experience. The Northern Hemisphere grape […]

My family and I are planning to try wine tasting for our bonding. We’ll make sure to figure out how much time we have available for the wine tasting, so everything we’ll run smoothly. I just have to look for a perfect wine vineyard tour, so we may begin this exciting activity!

My boyfriend and I are planning to go on a wine tasting trip this coming weekend at Long Island. Thanks for your helpful tips on how to plan for this kind of trip. I like what you said about deciding on or mixing up wine tours and wine tastings since this can also be a great way to narrow down our overall wine vacation experience. I shall then talk to my boyfriend about that.

[…] Organizing the perfect wine tour for a special occasion or just because is not as difficult as one might believe. The following offers some helpful tips that will assist individuals in creating the wine tour of their dreams. […]

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Plan a Beautiful Wine Tour

HOW TO ORGANIZE A WINE TOUR & WINERY EXPERIENCES

words by Ivy Life & Style Media

GOLD BOOK REFERENCE GUIDE

Virginia Wine Country offers a bounty of opportunities to deepen your knowledge of wine and winemaking, whether you’re a novice, a seasoned wine professional or something in between. There are wine tours, classes, vineyard tours and events throughout the year to help you immerse yourself in the fascinating world of wine, and many are even available for company events or dinners . And, because Virginia’s is a boutique wine industry, you’ll likely be chatting with the vintner, the vineyard manager or maybe even an owner on your wine tour. It is a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes adventures of the winemaking life.

Wine Tour of the Vineyard

One of the special things about the Virginia Wine Industry is its generous spirit of collaboration and experimentation. Many wineries participate in the Virginia Winemaker’s Exchange , a scientific organization dedicated to researching the optimal soil conditions, climate, vine care and processes required to make the best wine Virginia has to offer. This experimentation ranges from planting new grape varieties and caring for the grape vines, to how different grapes react to various winemaking techniques.

Touring the vineyards and wineries gives you an up-close look at the processes (and results) of those experiments.

What to Expect on Wine Tours in Virginia

Some wineries offer vineyard tours so it’s worth planning your visit at a time when you can join one. These wine tours take you through the different “blocks” of the vineyard and describe the grapes that grow in each individual area, why that variety was chosen and what soil conditions contribute to its success. This is an excellent way to develop an understanding of the wines you will be tasting. There are also vineyards that offer self-guided opportunities or even an exploration of the vineyard on horseback.

Another component to a Virginia wine tour is the cellar. Here, winemakers store the wines as they age in barrels for the red wines or stainless steel tanks for the whites. Some tasting rooms are built to offer a view of the working areas of the cellar so guests can see the winemaking process while sipping. Others have museum style exhibits detailing the history of Virginia wine and the story of the vineyard property.

Look for all these informative opportunities to further your understanding of the enormous effort involved in bringing the wine you’re enjoying to your glass.

A Winery Tour and Special Events

Beyond a wine tour, look for other special events and attend as many activities as you can – experience will deepen your knowledge and enjoyment of the wines. There are exclusive classes, demonstrations and festivals at many wineries. Curated pairing events and classes are a favorite. Expert chefs and winemakers work together to find the perfect culinary match for specific wines, from tapas or an aperitif-style brunch to a full four-course dinner. Sommeliers and winemakers along with the chef talk about the unique qualities and history of each wine and why the food pairing was chosen. This is all terrific knowledge that you can take home to design your own wine pairings or even incorporate into future wine tours.

Another popular activity is to join the wine clubs at your favorite wineries. Clubs are often offered for both local members and out- of-state visitors. With exclusive tasting events, opportunities to ship, early access to new or limited wine releases and more, joining wine clubs offer an excellent way to get the most out of your Virginia Winery experience. Some wineries may even invite members to volunteer during harvest. This is an amazing opportunity to have a hands-on experience and learn more about winemaking while you work side-by-side with Virginia vineyard staff. These events and more can be found on our event calendar .

As part of a statewide initiative to promote inclusion and diversity within the wine world of Virginia, Blenheim Vineyards has launched a wine education club called OENOverse . Owned by the world famous musician Dave Matthews who started his musical career in Charlottesville, Blenheim Vineyards has organized several paired dinner talks and a festival that welcome all to learn and explore more about wines.

Wine Tour Planning Tips from a Local

Advance planning.

Choose dates ahead of time for your winery visit, and use an app to calculate driving distances. Leave 45 to 60 minutes per winery if you are doing a simple wine tasting , and reserve a tasting seating in advance.

Be Ready for Weather

Remember to check the weather forecast. Bring coolers with chilled water, and check vineyard policies on bringing picnics, dogs and children. If you are doing a planned tour be sure to wear comfortable shoes and ask your host for how much time to allow for touring the winery. Hats, sunscreen, bug spray will all contribute to your vineyard tour comfort.

Drive Safely

Consider hiring someone to drive for you on your wine tour so no one feels restricted from tasting because they’re the designated driver. If you choose a designated driver instead, you can thank them with gifts of wine to take home. Another avenue for a wine tour day is to consider is a professional tour, whether in a “hop on, hop off” bus format that eliminates driving for everyone in your group, or a privately guided tour. Tour guides often have insider knowledge and connections that will ensure your tasting journey will be fun, informative and truly memorable.

Virginia’s young wine region’s coming-of-age period is an exciting time to experience Virginia Wine Country . There is no better time in history to enjoy the warm and welcoming culture of Virginia’s wineries. ~

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Virginia Wine & Country celebrates elevated living in Virginia Wine Country. Virginia Wine & Country Life is a semi-annual luxury print magazine with a full digital presence. The Virginia Wine & Country Gold Book is an annual guide to the top award-winning wines, wineries and experiences in Virginia Wine Country. The annual Virginia Wine & Country Wedding Planner is an art book of elegant Virginia weddings. Virginia Wine & Country tells the stories of Virginia wineries, the farm-to-table movement, luxury travel, entertaining, art and the elegant country lifestyle. Ivy Life & Style Media  also provides branding, web design and PR services for the wine industry.

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How to organize a perfect wine tour?

There is no right or wrong way to plan a wine tour and to experience a wine tasting, but we thought you might need some tips on how to make your wine trip a one to remember. There are actually so many details you might want to take into account when getting ready for a wine tour, and many of these might sound irrelevant but can make a difference.

Table of Contents

Choose the wine areas you want to visit

It kind of goes without saying, but an essential step when planning a wine tourism experience is to decide where you want to go. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of “broad” wine regions, within which thousands of sub-appellations exist. One could spend his or her entire life traveling and tasting wine and likely not be able to hit every sub-appellation around the world.

Choose the best season depending on the region

When going around for wine tastings and tours, you don’t want the weather to be too hot, too cold nor too rainy. One important thing you need to be aware of is the climatic difference between the northern and southern hemispheres; when it’s summer in the northern part of the world, it’s winter in the southern and vice-versa. You don’t want to end up planning a wine tour during a dead part of the season (unless you really want to avoid tourists) and risk that wineries are closed or offer fewer wine tastings.

If you are planning to visit wineries for the harvest experience, remember that in the southern hemisphere harvest season is normally from February to April months when in the northern hemisphere, it is from August to October depending on the country.

Book in advance

Last minute booking can lead to disappointment! Wineries have limited availability, so is usually better to book in advance ( also a month before if you’re planning to come during the busiest months).

Plan which wineries you would like to visit

Every wine area has tonnes of wineries so, it’s important that you decide which one fits your preferences. You can find small wineries (or boutique wineries), that usually are family-run; there you can find a warm atmosphere and for sure they are going to welcome you like you are part of their family, plus usually, their attention to each guest is scrupulous.

The other choice is to concentrate your self on big wineries, for sure in there you can find famous and internationally known wines, usually big wineries are also already big brands all over the world. They are easier to find on the web but remember that your experience there could be a little bit cold and less exclusive.

In the end, this decision it’s really up to you depends on what you like and what are your expectations.

Visit no more than 2 or 3 wineries a day

It’s better to enjoy each winery, each experience and savor each wine while relaxing. Nowadays most wineries offer real and local experiences like cooking classes, traditional meals or other activities paired with the tasting of their wines. So my advice is to stop, relax, eat local and drink good wines.

Make the most of your visit

Some wineries now offer good food and dining experiences, too, including gourmet picnics and fine restaurant dining. Take advantage of a restaurant or outdoor picnic area to break up the day and, more importantly, to enjoy a spectacular meal or view. If you’re more of a do-it-yourself type, bring along your own picnic lunch, buy a bottle of wine at the winery shop and enjoy the view of the vineyards. Some wineries offer cultural experiences, too, such as concerts, art exhibits and spectacular architecture.

You don’t need to be a pro to go for wine tasting

You won’t need to pass a test regarding your knowledge of wine or tasting skills in order to be part of a wine tasting. Most people that visit wineries are just curious to learn more about the world of wines and maybe learn something about the wine production in a specific wine region or appellation. There is no need for you to get your sommelier certificate beforehand.

Tips on what to wear during your wine trip

Here’s what we suggest:

• Don’t wear your best whites if you are planning on drinking red wine.
• Always bring a sweater or something to cover yourself in case you are going to visit the cellars – even on a sunny summer day, it can be quite cold down there.
• Don’t wear too much perfume or cologne – it may alter your sense of smell and that of those around you.
• You don’t need to dress fancy to participate in a wine tasting. That kind of dress code is more for candlelight dinners.
• If you love wearing high heels, bring a pair of comfortable shoes with you just in case a walk in the vineyard is part of the wine tour.

Can you bring wine back home?

Yes! We always advise people to bring an extra suitcase or leave space in their suitcase for two or 3 bottles. Some wineries abroad ship to the US, but only if you buy a certain amount of wine. And many wineries don’t ship. So don’t assume, always ask. If you just want a bottle or two of a special wine, you’re better off checking it in your luggage. You may want to consider buying a couple of wine protector bags like Wine Skin to put in your luggage before you leave, so you have something to protect your bottles on the way back. According to the FAA, there are no limits on how much alcohol you can pack in your checked luggage if the alcohol by volume is less than 24 percent (generally beer and wine).

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Travelling Without a Passport

What to Expect on a Wine Tour

When travelling across the world, there is always an opportunity to learn new skills, develop a taste for new cuisine, enjoy local experiences and meet new people. This, of course, can all be experienced on a wine tour.

Travel to: France

Whether you’re stopping for a quick tipple while driving through wine regions or joining a specialist, multi-day wine-tasting tour  in Europe or other parts of the world, a winery tour is always a good idea – and even better when you have a designated driver!

Before you go, we’ve collected some useful tips to help you understand what to expect when visiting a winery and how to choose a perfect experience for you.

How to choose your winery visit

With so many options across the globe, it can be difficult to know where to start. Naturally, you might be drawn to wineries or wines that you’re familiar with, but travelling also gives you the opportunity to sample new varieties.

Commercial Vs small business?

Europe certainly has no shortage of winemakers, ranging from industrial size factories with generations of family history to small, family-run businesses who produce comparatively minuscule amounts of wine per year, used mainly for local consumption. These are the kinds of wines you’ll never see on the shelf back home and a great souvenir to take back with you (if the bottle makes it that far).

Old world vs new world?

Do some research to understand what wines are typical of the region you’re visiting for the most authentic experience. Many grape varieties have been exported around the globe for cultivation in new lands, but it’s always interesting to get back to the source and understand how world famous varieties found their roots.

It’s also important to note that wines can often be categorised as the old world or new world wines.

See Also: How to See the Most of France on Your Bike

Old world wines often originate in Europe, including the likes of Bordeaux , Chianti, Vermentino, and will usually be made according to strict rules and regulations, being limited to grape cultivation only in certain areas. These are referred to as AOC or DOC in France, Italy and Spain respectively, which can be found on the label.

New world wines, on the other hand, are often the winemaker’s playground, where they make the rules, cultivating varieties outside of their region of origin and often mixing non-traditional cuvees.

It also helps to consider which kind of wine experience you’re more interested in when selecting a winery. Are you a traditionalist or a modernist? Are you interested more in deepening your wine knowledge, or taking a more light-hearted approach and simply supporting a local wine-maker who works with your favourite grape variety? The choice is yours!

Getting there

If you’re driving, simply make sure you have a designated driver and check out the winery’s website for directions. If your winery visit is included on a tour, this bit is easy and no-one has to worry about having to hold back if you’ve chosen your perfect winery experience.

If you’re an independent traveller, it’s always best to call ahead. Larger wineries will conduct group tours at different allotted times throughout the day in various languages, whereas a smaller winery may only be open for a visit that is pre-arranged, so it’s not only a time-saver but also simply courteous to plan ahead.

What to expect on a wine tour

Although the wine tour experience will vary from one winery to the next, it is safe to say that there will always be certain things you can reasonably expect to encounter.

The property

Your tour will usually follow the wine-making process itself, starting with explaining harvest, grape selection, fermentation, ageing and bottling before tasting.

One of the most romantic parts of visiting a winery is gazing out across the endless rows of vines with grapes just waiting to be brought to maturity. This is often where the tour will begin, before heading indoors to the processing area and finally, down to the cellar where you can surround yourself with beautiful wooden barrels and endless rows of bottles.

When I started doing wine tours I was interested in learning about the different ways in which the wine itself was produced and the processes involved which impacted the distinct flavors of wines. This level of understanding helped me better appreciate what I was drinking as well as determine what wines I prefer and why. While I was fascinated with the process of wine-making when I first took tours, I am not so interested in that aspect of it now. So I make sure to seek out tours that are organized around things I do like; some tasting with food, a combination of winery visits with other destination highlights, etc. Not every wine tour is the same, so make sure that you find one built around your interests. – Carol, Girl Gone Travel

The wine and the history of the winery

Throughout your visit, you will typically learn about the grape varieties in the region and how wine is made. If you are visiting multiple wineries in the same region, you will usually find this part a little repetitive, but there are often small nuances which differ from one visit to the next.

Winemakers are often following on a family tradition, even at the big wineries like the famous Marques de Riscal in La Rioja, Northern Spain. Needless to say, the family history will feature strongly in your wine tour too.

I enjoy how a wine tour fuses tourism and authentic Spanish culture together, to create an immersive experience. In Spain, the wineries I visited were family-owned and operated. It’s truly a way of life and a means of income for Spaniards in La Rioja. It was wonderful to see locals and tourists support them. To anyone interested in a wine tour, I would say go during autumn. The vineyards are the most beautiful and vibrant from September to October! Also, if you’re in a place with multiple wineries, book two in one day. Each wine tour has a different vibe. – Sojourner, Sojournies

Obviously, this is the fun part! A standard wine tasting tour will have you sampling anything from one to six wines, and some may even have small bites of local meats and cheeses to accompany your tasting. Tasting sizes are often around half the amount of a regular glass of wine.

See Also: 18 Most Affordable Places to Travel for Under $18 a Day

Often your guide will give you some pointers on what you’re looking for in the glass visually, as well as explain the aroma and bouquet. Of course, you will have an opportunity to buy directly from the winemaker too, with some offering shipping options for larger quantities.

Finally settled down in Vienna after 9 years of leading tours in Europe, Leona first joined TourRadar in 2016. She speaks four languages and enjoys cooking authentic traditional recipes, walking in the hills around Vienna and arranging beer coasters so they're all facing the same way.

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What To Bring On a Wine Tour — How to Prepare for Your Trip

by Tiffany Cook | Sep 29, 2020 | Wine Tasting | 0 comments

Are you planning a wine-tasting getaway? There’s nothing like a weekend spent relaxing, exploring wine country, and tasting unique, award-winning wines. To get the most out of any wine tour, it’s a good idea to do some basic planning to make sure you head out the door prepared.

Keep reading to discover how best to prepare for your wine-tasting adventure and what you should bring with you on your tour!

How to Prepare for a Wine Tasting

There are a few super simple and easy things you can do to make your wine tour the best it can be! First and foremost, go in with an open mind! Whether you’re planning your first-ever trip to wine country or you’re an experienced taster, try to be open to trying new wines, having new experiences, and meeting new people. A tasting tour is the perfect time to try something completely new!

Here are a few things you can do to prepare to make sure you get the most out of your wine-tasting experience:

• Avoid wearing any perfume, cologne, or other fragrance.
• Don’t drink too much the day before your tour.
• Skip flavored chapstick or heavy lipstick.
• Make sure you’re hydrated; drink plenty of water before you head out.
• Do some basic research on the area you’re visiting and plan a few non-tasting activities or restaurants to try. If you’ll be wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, check out our guides for the following areas:
• Dundee Oregon Wine Country Visitors Guide
• McMinnville Oregon Wine Country Visitors Guide
• Newberg Oregon Wine Country Visitors Guide

What to Eat Before a Tour

Most tasting rooms and wineries offer hor d’oeuvres, appetizers, or other bits and pieces to snack on in addition to the wines they’re serving. But don’t expect a full meal. You’ll want to eat before you embark on your tour to make sure you’re not uncomfortable and that you have something in your stomach before you start tasting.

You don’t want to feel hungry on your wine tour, but you also don’t want to be too full to enjoy tasting the selection of wines. It’s a good idea to eat something filling but relatively plain. Avoid spicy or overly seasoned foods to make sure your taste buds are unaffected.

What to Wear on a Tour

When it comes to choosing outfits for wine tasting , it’s best to keep it relatively simple. Low-maintenance attire that can be easily dressed up is generally the way to go! Remember, on a Tour DeVine helicopter wine tour , you’ll be getting on and off a helicopter between each winery you visit and walking across fields near vineyards. Keep that in mind when you choose your shoes and clothing.

Here’s what we recommend wearing on your wine-tasting adventure:

• Comfortable clothes
• Plenty of layers
• Dark colors, especially if you’re concerned about spilling
• Easy-to-walk-in shoes
• A pair of sunglasses

What to Pack for Wine Country

Whether you’re staying just a night or two or making a weeklong trip of your adventures in wine country, there are a few essentials you’ll want to make sure you pack!

First and foremost, we recommend that you pack your items in a hard-shelled suitcase or carrier. That’s because hard-shelled luggage will protect any wine bottles you purchase and bring back home with you. The last thing you want is to have your bottles shatter or crack on your way home.

Here are a few items to consider packing for your wine country trip:

• A quality water bottle to keep you hydrated
• Comfy pajamas for lounging in your accommodation
• A small crossbody purse or wristlet
• Comfortable, dressy clothes and shoes
• A travel umbrella, just in case it rains
• Yummy snacks
• A portable phone charger

Essential Items to Bring During COVID-19

Most tasting rooms and wineries around the world are making changes to how they operate to ensure the safety of their staff and guests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Your safety is paramount to us. Tour DeVine (along with the Oregon wineries we partner with) is taking extra precautions on our helicopter wine tours this summer. These include implementing capacity restrictions, handing out face masks upon request, and carefully following the guidelines of each winery we visit.

In addition to our precautionary measures, here are a few items you might consider bringing along with you on your tour this summer:

• A cloth or disposable mask or other face covering
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfecting wipes
• A touchless payment method (i.e. a credit or debit card rather than cash)
• Health insurance card
• Thermometer

Book Your Tour DeVine Helicopter Wine Tour Today!

Ready for a day of flight, fun, and fine wine? Taste the region’s most beloved wines and experience Oregon wine country ’s rolling hills and small towns from the air! Book your helicopter wine tour with us and you’ll be chauffeured between each winery you visit in style, tasting award-winning wines at each stop.

Book your tour today or call us at (503) 687-3816 .

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What To Expect From Your First Wine Tour

Embarking on your first wine tour can be an exciting and memorable experience, especially if you have a passion for wine and its rich history. Whether you plan to visit a local winery or make a trip to a world-renowned wine region, like Bordeaux or Tuscany , it’s essential to know what to expect to make the most of your experience. 

From the moment you step foot on the vineyard property to the time you raise your glass for the first tasting, a wine tour offers a unique journey through the art of winemaking.

» You might also enjoy The Sparkling Wines of Italy: Prosecco and Beyond .

During a wine tour, you’ll not only have the opportunity to taste a variety of wines but also learn about the wine-making process from start to finish. This includes understanding how the grapes are harvested, the fermentation process, and even the steps to age and bottle the wine.

If you’re lucky enough to be there during harvest, you might even get to see some of the harvesting and destemming on your visit. For me, this is the most special time to visit a winery. There’s nothing like seeing all those grapes piled up, and smelling the aroma of freshly picked fruit.

A well-planned wine tour can provide a great platform to connect with winemakers, discover new wines, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the vineyards.

As a first-time wine tour participant, it helps to prepare and familiarize yourself with some tips and know exactly what you’re getting into so there are no surprises. 

From choosing the right attire to understanding basic tasting etiquette, being well-versed in these aspects will help enhance your overall experience and ensure that you have a fantastic time exploring the world of wine.

For more great wine regions, see our Discover Wine series , which focuses on regions of the world you can visit for wine tasting.

Table of Contents

Choosing the Right Wine Tour

Types of wine tours.

There are various types of wine tours available, depending on your interests and preferences. Most wine tours are put together by a company and are arranged so that you will visit producers they have a relationship with. They will include 2-3 stops at wineries for a tour and tasting.

Others are centered around learning wine tasting techniques or exploring a particular wine region. These are often more specialized tours through companies that are designed to teach you more about wine.

And there are others that have no focus other than to get you to the winery and back. What you get out of the experience will be entirely up to you.

Wine Regions

Wine production takes place in many regions all over the world. You might choose to visit a popular wine region like Bordeaux in France , Tuscany in Italy , Napa Valley in California , and Hunter Valley in Australia . 

Each region has a distinct winemaking tradition and offers unique experiences. You can base where you visit on what type of wine you like or drink most, or maybe you want to try somewhere you’re less familiar with.

We’ve been to nearly all of the major wine regions around the world and have loved every one of the experiences we’ve had. You really can’t go wrong. Just choose somewhere that fascinates you.

Group vs. Private Tours

When selecting a wine tour, you’ll have to decide if you prefer a group or private tour. Private tours are usually more expensive but provide a more intimate and personalized experience. 

On the other hand, group tours are less expensive and offer opportunities to meet other wine enthusiasts, but you’ll also have to go along with the crowd. 

Consider your budget and preferences when choosing between these two options. We like to find a great company that operates in the area, like Wine Tours Hunter Valley , and see what they offer. You can typically trust all the great ratings these companies have to know that you’ll be in good hands.

Preparation and Planning

Meticulous planning is essential for a successful first wine tour experience. Consider these necessary steps as you plan your journey.

What to Wear

Dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather and the occasion. Many wineries have a relaxed atmosphere, so dressing casually is acceptable, within reason. 

Opt for layers, because you might find yourself standing in a sun-drenched vineyard and the next minute in an underground cellar.

What to Bring

A few essential items can enhance your wine tour experience:

• Notepad and pen for taking notes about the wines you taste
• Camera or smartphone for capturing labels of the wines you like
• A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated
• Snacks to soak up any excess you sipped
• A wine carrier or tote to bring home purchased bottles

Transportation

How you’re going to get around to the wineries is one of the top concerns, because you have to be very careful not to drink and drive. There are a few options to consider: 

• Join a guided group tour with an established company that provides transportation.
• Hire a driver for the day.
• Choose a designated driver from your group who won’t be wine tasting.
• Use ride-share services like Uber or Lyft to travel between tasting venues, however this can be very difficult to do in many wine regions.
• Sip and spit. It’s still possible to get a good wine tasting experience even if you’re spitting out the wine. This is something we do often. There are spittoons available always. If you don’t see one, ask for it.

When planning your winery visits, allow enough time for travel, wine tasting, and breaks for meals or snacks. It’s a good idea to limit your itinerary to around three to four wineries per day, as this will give you enough time to enjoy each location without rushing.

The Wine Tasting Experience

Tasting techniques.

During your first wine tour, you’ll have the opportunity to learn various wine tasting techniques. It starts with visual examination, where you’ll check the color and clarity of the wine. 

Then, you’ll swirl the glass to release the aroma and take a deep sniff to identify its distinct scent. Then you can taste the wine, swish it around in your mouth and suck in some air to aerate the wine in your mouth. 

While sampling, consider the wine’s sweetness, acidity, tannins, and overall balance. Even if you don’t want to get technical about it. Think about whether you like this wine or not. Is it pleasing to your palate? In the end, that’s all that really matters in wine tasting.

Wine Pairings and Food Options

Another aspect of the wine tasting experience is discovering the perfect pairings. It’s fun to see how different wines complement various foods. 

Choosing the right food can elevate your wine tasting experience and help you better appreciate the nuances in flavor. 

Many wineries offer food pairing suggestions or even full meals featuring locally sourced ingredients to showcase their wines in the best light. If you have this opportunity at a winery you visit, definitely go for it! These have been some of the best experiences we’ve had. Tasting the wine with food really elevates it.

Etiquette and Tips

While you’re just there to have a good time and learn a bit about wine, there are some basic etiquette and tips to make the most out of your experience. 

• Take your time and enjoy it. Sip don’t gulp.
• Hold your glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine. 
• It is okay to spit the wine out after tasting if you don’t want to drink it. It’s okay to ask for a pour bucket if you don’t see one.
• Ask questions and take notes.
• Don’t feel obligated to buy the wine, whether you enjoyed it or not.
• Don’t ask for ice to add to your wine.

Vineyard Tours

During a vineyard tour, you can expect to learn about the wine-making process, starting from grape harvest and selection, to fermentation, aging, and bottling, before moving on to the wine tasting itself. 

Vineyard tours are generally guided by a winery employee or owner, who will take you through the grounds and provide information about the winery’s history and operations.

Each winery offers different experiences, such as walking through the vineyards, taking a closer look at the production facilities, or even participating in hands-on activities like grape harvesting, depending on the winery and time of year.

Some wineries might also provide a more in-depth sensory exploration, allowing guests to learn about wine aromas and flavors by sampling different wines side by side. This part of the tour usually takes place in a tasting room or outdoor patio, offering a relaxed environment to appreciate the nuances of each wine.

Purchasing and Shipping Wine

Buying wine at the winery.

You may want to purchase a few bottles of your favorite wines from the wineries you visit. Be sure to approach this strategically. If you’ve flown to your destination, you likely have a limited space to bring back wine.

Often, we’ll travel to a wine region with a wine case that can hold 6 bottles that we check on the airline. That gives us 6 opportunities to fall in love with a wine.

You don’t want to buy a bunch of wine at your first stop and have no room for others, but you don’t want to miss out on a wine you loved either. We try to only purchase one bottle from each winery we visit (if we liked it enough), and not buy any bottles of wine that we can get back home.

If you truly love a wine and can’t live without it, ask the winery about shipping a case home. Know that this can be very expensive. Only do it if you know you won’t regret the purchase later.

Shipping and Handling

If you’re interested in having your wine shipped directly to your home, you have a few options.

• Many wineries will ship the bottles to the U.S. or other countries for you, usually for a high fee. Be sure to calculate the cost of each bottle after shipping and handling has been added.
• You can often buy the same wines at a wine store nearby and they sometimes have better, less expensive shipping options.
• There are many online wine merchants where you can find the wines you tasted and have them shipped to you. It’s not the same as buying from the winery, but still good.

» Looking for more Australia wine region information? We’ve been everywhere! Check out our guides to McLaren Vale , Adelaide Hills , Barossa , and Margaret River .

Planning for an Italy wine trip? Here's more

Where to Go Wine Tasting in Puglia, Italy

4-Day Self-Guided Wine Tasting Tour in Chianti, Italy

11 Must-Visit Tuscany Wineries

Best Places to Stay in Tuscany for Wine Tasting

Embarking on your first wine tour is an exciting and enriching experience. It allows you to explore the world of winemaking, learn about the history and culture surrounding wine, and indulge in some delicious tastings. 

When planning your wine tour, be sure to choose a tour that aligns with your interests, such as a focus on a specific wine region or an emphasis on sustainable practices.

You will undoubtedly gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances of various wines and the art of winemaking.

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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

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• Travel Resources

The Perfect Napa Valley Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

• by JESS LANDER
• on OCTOBER 23, 2023

One hour north of San Francisco, all of life’s greatest indulgences — wine, food, relaxation, and adventure — can be experienced all at once in Napa Valley , one of the top Wine Country destinations in the world.

Thirty miles long and five miles wide, this small slice of heaven is home to more than 500 wineries throughout a collection of six quaint towns: Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga. Each has its own personality and places to discover; from Napa’s urban wine trail to Yountville’s renowned fine dining to Calistoga’s detoxifying hot springs, there’s something for every kind of traveler, whether you’re a oenophile, foodie, adventurist, or self-care aficionado.

There is also not a bad time to visit Napa Valley . While September and October are the busiest and warmest months, offering the chance to experience the annual grape harvest in action , the winter months have their own appeal. It’s quiet, uncrowded, and not too chilly with temperatures mostly hanging out in the 50s and 60s. Plus, many hotels offer hard-to-beat off-season rates. Your best chance of rain is in the spring, but the blooming fields of bright, yellow mustard also make it one of the most Instagram -worthy seasons to plan a trip.

For whenever you do decide to pack your bags and pay Napa Valley a visit, we’ve put together the perfect itinerary for the first time visitor, covering all of the “must do’s” over a long weekend trip.

Visit a Historic Winery

Reserve a hotel room in Napa so that you can be within walking distance (or just a short drive) to downtown’s many restaurants, bars, and tasting rooms. The urban chic Andaz Napa is at the heart of downtown Napa activity, where loft-style rooms are both stylish and inviting, while Milliken Creek ’s peaceful riverfront location offers guests a quieter escape just a few minutes from the downtown scene.

Spend your second day exploring the towns that put the “Valley” in “Napa Valley.” The small towns of Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga are referred to by locals as the “UpValley,” so use that term if you want to blend in.

Breakfast in Yountville

For breakfast, head to chef Thomas Keller’s famous Bouchon Bakery in Yountville for pastries and espresso. Most likely there will be a line out the door, but it moves quickly. If you want to double down, you can head to Mini Model across the street. This is a smaller location of the locally-acclaimed Model Bakery . Get the English muffin. It’s so good that Oprah Winfrey actually has them flown in to her. For a more leisurely breakfast, try Lucy Restaurant at the LEED Certified Bardessono , where breakfast options highlight what’s local and seasonal.

Visit a Boutique Winery

Because you visited some of the oldest, largest, and most popular wineries on Day 1, make an appointment at a boutique or family-owned winery next and compare experiences. A boutique winery can mean several things: a more personalized experience (sometimes with the winemaker or owner), less of a crowd, and super primo wines (especially Cabernet Sauvignon, which Napa Valley is best known for). Some of our favorite family-owned and boutique wineries to visit UpValley are Goosecross Cellars , Jessup Cellars , and Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville, William Cole in St. Helena, and Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford. Also in Rutherford is the family-owned Sequoia Grove Winery , where a variety of tasting experiences await. Add a seasonal cheese and charcuterie plate to your tasting if you need a snack to tide you over until lunch.

Lunch in St. Helena

For the better part of the afternoon, drive the eight miles from St. Helena to Calistoga for some spa time. This quirky, little town is best known for its healing mineral waters from natural hot springs, plus mud baths that’ll make your skin as smooth as a newborn. Make an appointment for a spa treatment ahead of time; there are so many local spas to choose from, from super luxe resorts like Indian Springs and Solage to hip boutique gems like Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs to more intimate and classically restorative escapes at The Moonacre Spa and Golden Haven Hot Springs .

If you have some time after, take a stroll down Calistoga’s main drag Lincoln Avenue and pop into CAMi Art + Wine for a tasting while admiring the contemporary art, or grab a pint at the Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery .

Dine at a World-Renowned Restaurant

Schedule your travel plans home later in the day so that you have time for one last hurrah. One of Napa Valley’s most sought-after adventures is a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the vines. We promise that the 6 AM wake up call is worth it. Don’t forget your camera!

Check out Napa Valley Aloft  to schedule your flight, which often includes a post-flight sparkling wine toast.

About Jess Lander

Jess Lander is a freelance wine, food and travel writer based in Napa Valley and exploring all things California wine country. Follow her on Instagram at @willwrite4wine to get Napa and Sonoma #travelinspo.

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PLANNING A WINE TOUR AND NEED SOME HELP?

We can help you plan the perfect, bespoke wine tour….

A flexible service to individuals and groups, with help in planning a wine tour in the top wine producing countries and top wine tourism destinations around the world, to create the perfect, bespoke wine holiday, wine vacation or incentive trip.

We take a detailed brief, starting with learning all about you and your tour expectations, then plan a tailored wine tour, with daily wine tour itineraries, working as appropriate, with our in-region experts.

Our service ranges from delivering a plan with multiple options which you can select from and book directly, to a more managed solution, which can involve us managing, supervising or joining the tour.

Save time and money

We save you time and money researching a wine tour. Benefit from our excellent contacts in the world’s top wine regions, with local wineries, wine tourism providers and tour operators.

You just pay for our time, our experience, our knowledge and our contacts to enable you to plan the best possible wine travel experience.

We work with a multi award-winning tour operator as appropriate, when putting together package tours. This provides the backing of a large UK based HQ and a unique financial protection scheme to give you financial security and peace of mind when booking your wine tour.

Confidence you will enjoy the most authentic and immersive experience in your chosen wine region or wine tourism destination, tailored to you.

Our wine tour recommendations are not just researched, they are tried and tested, either by us or our local experts.

The most authentic experience

Our wine tours

Wine regions

We cover the best wine regions in the world, but we also uncover lesser-known and more underrated wine regions, which we believe deserve to be shared with the world!

Wineries & wine producers

We include the best wine producers, wineries and vineyards in the world, but we also like to introduce you to something new!

We shine a light on wine producers passionate about sustainability and sustainable wines and connecting with wine lovers keen to learn about their wines.

Accommodation

Where to stay is a key consideration and an important element of your overall experience and connection with the region.

We offer different options, including where possible winery hotels and vineyard accommodation.

Food and wine travel

It goes without saying that food and wine go together and discovering the different local foods, gastronomy and traditional dishes of a region are key to your wine tour!

We suggest food and wine travel options for you to really experience a region’s gastronomy!

Sights & scenery

It would be remiss not to allow time for sight-seeing and soaking up the natural beauty of a wine region.

Exploring a region’s history, culture and traditions is all part of a wine tour experience!

Activities, arts & culture

We recognise that the typical ‘wine tourist’ may also be interested in active outdoor pursuits, eg wine bike tours, or perhaps wellbeing activities, or the arts and music, as well as nature and the environment.

We always try to include an element of this into our wine tours.

Get in touch

Contact us now to discuss how we can help you plan the perfect wine tour! - or alternatively fill in our tour questionnaire !

Thanks for getting in touch, we will come back to you very shortly, best regards, Carol and Juergen

• +39 0577 907265
• [email protected]

• WINE TASTING

How to Organize a Perfect Wine tour… in 9 simple steps

Step 1 – Choose the Wine Areas you want to visit

Here in Italy, any region has a Wine area to visit, so the first step is to decide which areas you want to visit and how many days you are going to stay, in this way you can each day visit a different wine area.

Step 2 – Consider the Time of Year

The Time of year is definitely an important factor to keep in mind while planning a wine tour. Summer and fall are the busiest months in most locations but also the best! Consider that if you choose September you will be able to see the Harvest Season that is amazing. Winter instead is pretty calm, but notice that most part of the wineries close or reduce their opening time, so call them in advance!

Step 3 – Book in advance

Last minute booking can lead to disappointment! Wineries have limited availability, so is usually better to book in advance ( also a month before if you’re planning to come during the busiest months).

Step 4 – Plan which wineries you would like to visit

Every Wine area has tonnes of wineries so, it’s important that you decide which one fits your preferences. You can find small wineries ( or boutique wineries ), that usually are family-run ; there you can find a warm atmosphere and for sure they are going to welcome you like you are part of their family, plus usually, their attention to each guest is scrupulous.

The other choice is to concentrate your self on big wineries, for sure in there you can find famous and internationally known wines, usually big wineries are also already big brands all over the world. They are easier to find on the web but remember that your experience there could be a little bit cold and less exclusive.

In the end, this decision it’s really up to you depends on what you like and what are your expectations.

Step 5 – Visit no more than 2 or 3 wineries a day

It’s better to enjoy each winery, each experience and savor each wine while relaxing. Nowadays most wineries offer real and local experiences like cooking classes, traditional meals or other activities paired with the tasting of their wines. So my advice is to stop, relax, eat local and drink good wines.

Step 6 – Rent a designated driver

If you are planning to visit a wine area, is better to hire a designated driver. This way you can sample the wine without problems and usually Drivers ( or NCC in Italy ) can help you during your day – trip, finding the best place to visit and some “ off – the – beaten – path” spots.

Step 7 – Visit Wineries Early in the Day if possible

Is better to have an early start, this way you can avoid the crowds, and get the attention of the winemaker and of the owners.

Step 8 – Make the most of your trip

A wine tasting tour should be a memorable experience. So don’t be afraid to ask question and benefit of all the activities that the winery can offer to you.

Take your time and enjoy any moment!

Step 9 – Explore Beyond Your Favourite Wines

Every winemaker has his or her unique style of winemaking , so a variety of wine will taste differently at each winery. Don’t be afraid to taste new things, also if usually, you don’t like, could be surprising that also if you don’t like reds, for example, you could find out one that fits your tastes.

Vittoria Bartalesi

Napa Valley

Travel Page

When it comes to napa valley, it's all about the wine. this napa wine tasting guide is dedicated to helping you figure out where to go, what to do, and how to get the most out of your trip so that you create memories of a lifetime (and a few bottles too)..

Where is Napa Valley?

Napa Valley sits just north of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California.

It doesn't take long to get there from San Francisco, only about 1.5 hours by car – and for about $200 you can arrive by limo service from SFO airport.

If you're trying to get to Napa from Los Angeles, you've got a dusty, 400-mile drive up the I-5 that isn't exactly scenic. Perfect time for an audio book.

When is the best time to visit Napa Valley?

The best time to visit Napa Valley is May through October, but be warned: it gets busy (especially on the weekends). So, if you come during the week from Tuesday through Friday you'll have a more laid back trip.

Honestly, off-season in Napa Valley is actually quite nice too. The rainiest month (February) is wet only 30% of the time.

Additionally, there are a few fun annual events throughout the year to know about, including Bottlerock in September (a massive music event) and two Napa Valley Vintners wine auctions which happen annually in February ( Premiere Napa Valley ) and June ( Auction Napa Valley ).

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Napa Wine Tasting FAQ

Here are some really important things to know when planning your Napa tasting visit:

Try to limit yourself to 3 wine tastings per day To be fair, we once pulled off 5 Napa wine tastings in a single day, but it was brutal. We were late for every appointment after the first one. Fit your tastings from 10am–5pm during open hours.

Expect to spend a minimum of $25–75 per wine tasting in Napa Valley Prices range from about $20 at the lowest to upwards of $500 per person per tasting. Most wineries will waive your tasting fee if you purchase something.

Call ahead and make appointments. This is due to the 1990 Winery Definition Ordinance that restricts small wineries from having tours and tastings open to the public. Only the larger wineries have walk-in wine tastings. So, if you want something unique, set up an appointment. Fortunately, this antiquated rule may change soon.

Plan to drive or hire a driver. It's nearly impossible to get around without a car in Napa Valley. So, designate a driver in your group and use the spitoon. Better yet, hire a driver. You'll learn so much about the valley in between stops because good drivers are sommeliers and can help you pick where to go. Expect to spend about $400–$600 a day (not including tip).

Stay in Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, or Napa. Each of the 4 cities in the Napa Valley offer amazing accommodations. Napa has big city amenities including the Oxbow Market; St. Helena and Yountville are the most luxurious and quaint; Calistoga has hot springs and feels the most laid back.

What is the best way to tour Napa Valley?

The best way to tour Napa Valley is to see the whole valley. In a car, you can do this by driving Highway 121 and looping back on the Silverado Trail – a 60 mile round trip. For a great view, head to one of the mountain vineyards on Mount Veeder , Howell Mountain , Diamond Mountain , or Spring Mountain.

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Which wineries to go to in Napa Valley?

Finally, we get to the serious question: what wineries should you go to in Napa Valley? We've definitely given folks a list of the most popular wine tasting destinations, but it's time to reveal some secrets on how to curate your own Napa wine tasting experience.

Choose wineries by location

Many of Napa Valley's best wineries have vineyard estates at the winery location. So, it's helpful to know what the best wines are in each part of the valley.

Time for a party at  Ashes & Diamonds  winery in Oak Knoll District.

Valley Floor Wineries

Ripe, bold, lush, full-bodied red and white wines.

If you’re into lush, bold, and opulent Cabernet-based wines with a dominance of fruit flavors then the valley floor estate wineries will suit your fancy. These wines show marvelously in their first decade. They hit another sweet spot at around 15 or so years of age.

The more northerly region of Calistoga produces more mineral styles. As you head south, St. Helena offers a wide diversity of varieties due to a multitude of terrains and soils. Into Rutherford, Oakville, and Yountville, the valley widens and this is where you'll find large winery estates famous for single-varietal Cabernet.

Special mention of Stags Leap District which has many benches producing exceptionally deeply-colored wines. And finally, onto Oak Knoll District and Coombsville, which are known for blends.

Stunning views at  Barnett Vineyards  high up in the hills of Spring Mountain District.

Mountain Wineries

Robust-yet-restrained red wines, with high tannins and minerality.

If you’re into bold, smoky, and mineral-driven Cabernet-based wines with tannin then the mountain winery estates are going to make you happy. The higher UV exposure in the hills and sparse water in the vineyards results in more complexity in the wines. These wines take at least 5–10 years to come around, but when they do, they taste lithe and supple.

You'll find these wineries in the mountain appellations of Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain, and Atlas Peak. There's also an unofficial appellation referred to as "Pritchard Hill" which is a keen highlight for wine geeks.

Rolling vineyard estates (like this one at  Artesa Winery ) offer views of San Francisco in the distance.

San Pablo Bay

Look here for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sparkling wines

If you love bubbles, white wines, and Pinot Noir, the southern part of Napa Valley is your special place. You'll find grassy rolling hills planted with rows upon rows of cooler climate grapes producing elegant red wines and creamy Chardonnay.

Look into wineries in Los Carneros to see many great choices.

Choose a winery by feature

Here are a few themes you might consider to select a winery.

Robert Mondavi hired Cliff May to design the now iconic mission-style  Robert Mondavi Winery.

The Classics

It's hard not to come to the valley and see history everywhere. One person you'll hear a lot about when it comes to the valley is Robert Mondavi. So, if you're looking for stories and historical spots, definitely stop by Robert Mondavi Winery and ask about To Kalon vineyard.

You might also check out Charles Krug Winery, Inglenook, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Beringer, and Larkmead Vineyards.

During the pandemic crisis in 2020, the organic producer,  Grgich Hills,  started offering virtual tasting tours.

The Progressives

If you've been trying to find like-minded individuals who put their energies into land preservation and sustainable farming, then one stop worth considering is Frog's Leap Winery.

Here are a few others you will want to check out: Rocca Vineyards, Spottswoode Winery, Ehler's Estate, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Grgich Hills, Chappellet Winery, and Tres Sabores.

Palmaz Vineyard  in Coombsville has an elaborate underground cellar.

The Exclusives

The most exclusive luxury exists in Napa Valley, and there's actually a growing list of cult destinations complete with Helipads. For starters, check out Opus One Winery with a storied partnership.

Of course, if you dig, you'll find many more treasures: Quintessa, Darioush, Hourglass Winery , Kenzo Winery, Palmaz Vineyard, Continuum Estate, Meteor Vineyard, and Promontory wines.

Some Napa Wine Tasting Tips

Practice basic tasting etiquette Follow the 4-step tasting method where you look, smell, taste, and take notes. If you plan to go to several wineries while you're there, this becomes invaluable after the fact.

Pack for "wine country upscale" style Napa Valley is one of the few wine regions in the United States that feels like it has a dressed up vibe. It's cultured and classy, but with the reality that you're going to walk into a vineyard (and likely get dirt on your shoes). Keep this in mind when packing.

Hydration is super important It's very easy to not drink enough water when travelling and doubly so when you're wine tasting. Be sure to pack extra water in the car.

Bring some rain money It's very common to tip for everything from your driver to your tasting attendant.

Explore the intricacies of one of the most important wine spots on the planet.

The Ultimate Guide To Planning A Wine Tour In Napa Valley

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wine Tour in Napa Valley If you\'re a wine enthusiast and haven\'t yet visited Napa Valley, then you\'re missing out on one of the greatest experiences of your life. Napa

Martin Holms

Review overview, privacy overview.

Seven Valuable Tips for Planning a Wine Tour

Being from the Finger Lakes area of upstate NY, and a lover of visiting wineries wherever I go, I have had the opportunity to go on and plan some wine tours. Here are my seven tips for planning the perfect wine tour.

1. Transportation

This one should go without saying, but you need to have a transportation plan.

You might be thinking that seeing you are only tasking wines that you or someone in your party will be okay to drive.

However, tastings can add up quickly. Most wineries include 4-6 1-2oz wines in their tasting package. Therefore, you are drinking at least a glass of wine, if not more, at each stop. For your safety, and the safety of everyone else around you, give the keys to someone who is not tasting.

Transportation options include:

• A limo, van or bus with a hired Companies have vehicles of all sizes so there is sure to be one that fits your group.
• An underage family member or friend. A teenager or young college student might be willing to be your driver for payment.
• Someone who can not/does not drink. Wine tours are a great social activity and some people will want to be included even though they cannot participate. For example, a pregnant family member or friend.
• Free or paid shuttle services to and between wineries. Some areas provide this service. Check to see if the area you’re touring offers this service.

2. Order of Wineries

One thing you might not think of when planning your wine tour is the order you visit the wineries. The order matters for two main reasons.

First, the order impacts how much driving is done throughout the day. Look at a map and decide on an order based on locations instead of spending the day driving back and forth multiple times between the same areas.

The second reason the order matters is your ability to taste the wines fully. The more you drink, the harder it becomes to distinguish the flavors in the wine. If there is a winery where you really want to experience the full flavors of their wines, visit that winery early on your tour.

3. Tasting Room Hours and Days Open

All tasting rooms have different hours of operation and might not be open seven days a week. Even vineyards that are open late for events and allow the purchase of full bottles for on-site consumption, might not allow tastings after a certain hour.

4. Booking tastings

If you are touring with a group, it’s always best to confirm the vineyard’s policies. Some wineries require you to book a reservation for groups over a certain size – especially if you are visiting on the weekend.

Keep in mind that in most cases, these are rules and not suggestions. Wineries that require reservations for your party’s size could turn you away if you arrive without notice.

While you will find some wineries that offer free tastings, most wineries along wine trails will charge a fee. Prices will vary depending on the location, average cost of wine at the winery, and the specifics of the tasting.

Here are some considerations if you are traveling with a group:

• Some wineries that require reservations for tastings will want payment at the time of the booking.
• One payment per group is often preferred and sometimes required. Therefore, consider collecting funds from all participants and have one person responsible for payment at all locations.

6. Time at Each Winery

If you have time restricted transportation or you are making reservations at the wineries, you must adequately calculate the time you will spend at each location.

To not feel rushed, you will want to plan at least an hour at each vineyard. This is the minimum amount of time you will want to give yourself to casually sip your samples, walk through the gift shop, and enjoy the views.

In some cases, you will need to plan more time. This can be when you are traveling on a busy day, like a Saturday, if you are going to eat lunch at their restaurant, if you are going to take a tour of the location, or if you want to enjoy a purchased glass of wine after the tasting.

In addition to the time spent at each winery, you will also want to factor in the time it will take to drive between wineries when making plans.

7. In-between Food and Water

My last tip for when you are planning a wine tour is an important one. Make sure you plan to pack food and water for between each winery.

Staying hydrated and eating food will keep you going through the day and lessen the possibility of a hangover.

Wine tours are a lot of fun. If you have any questions as you plan your wine tour, let me know.

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We’ve been thinking about one of these tours for years. Thanks for helping us understand how to get the most out of our experience.

You’re welcome! Wine tours are so much fun. I hope you are able to plan one soon!

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Wine Tours: Uncorking the Secrets to Planning a Memorable Experience

Wine tours are an excellent way to experience the world of wine, explore different wine regions, and learn about the history and culture behind each bottle. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just looking for a fun weekend activity to host, organizing a wine tour can be an exciting and rewarding experience. In this blog post, we will share tips on how to organize a successful wine tour event. 

Research Vineyards and Wineries 

The first step in organizing a wine tour event is to research different vineyards and wineries in the area that you plan to host the event. Look for vineyards that offer wine tours and tastings, as well as those that can accommodate groups. 

Choose a Location 

Once you have a list of potential venues, it's time to choose which place has the perfect location for your event. When deciding between different wineries and vineyards, taking into account the following factors:

• The number of wineries in the area 
• The variety of wines produced
• The accessibility of the region
• The aesthetic traits of the venue 
• Its overall popularity 

By considering these factors, you can choose a location that is sure to impress your guests and provide an unforgettable experience. 

Contact Wineries 

Once you've come up with a list of potential venues, reach out to them to inquire about their availability and pricing. Contact the wineries directly to discuss tour options, pricing, and availability. Keep in mind that some wineries may have restrictions on the size of groups they can accommodate or require advance booking.  

Plan the Itinerary 

Once you have confirmed your winery visits, it's time to plan your itinerary. Determine the order of the wineries you will visit, the length of time you will spend at each winery, and any additional activities you may want to include, such as a vineyard tour or wine tasting. Choose a date and time that works best for everyone involved and consider the availability of the vineyard, as well as the availability of your guests. You may also want to consider the weather, as wine tours are typically held outdoors. 

Market Your Event  

Marketing your event is crucial to attract a larger audience and ensure its success, and this is definitely true for wine tour events. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be useful tools for promoting your event. You can create event pages and posts with eye-catching visuals and engaging captions that highlight the unique features of your wine tour. It's always a good idea to use relevant hashtags when promoting your event on social media. This will help you reach a wider audience and encourage attendees to share your event with their friends and family. 

At Passage, we understand the importance of cost-effective advertising for event organizers. That's why we provide our social discounts feature, which allows you to offer discounts to users who share your event. If you're interested in learning more about this feature, check out our Social Discounts help article .

Additionally, consider partnering with influencers or wine bloggers who have a substantial following and can help spread the word about your event. With an effective marketing strategy in place, you can expect a higher turnout and create a buzz around your wine tour event. 

You can find more information on how to market your wine tour in these two articles:

• 11 Simple Ways to Promote Your Event and Increase Ticket Sales
• 7 Tips to Promote Your Event on Social Media

Arrange Transportation 

To ensure a delightful wine tour event, consider arranging transportation for your guests. You can opt for a bus, limousine, or van service, but make sure to choose a reliable and reputable transportation company to prioritize safety. The vehicle can transport guests from the meeting point to the vineyard, or you can ask guests to carpool or arrange their own transportation. Be mindful of safety measures, especially given guests' alcohol levels after the tour, to ensure they get home safely. 

Plan for Food and Entertainment 

To make your wine tour event even more enjoyable, consider arranging for food and entertainment. Many vineyards offer food pairings with their wine tastings, or you can hire a catering service to provide food for your guests. You can also consider hiring live music or a DJ to provide entertainment during the event. 

Our ticketing platform offers bundle options, which allow you to sell multiple tickets or products together for a single price. Alternatively, you can use our customer choice bundle feature, which enables customers to choose from a list of items that you present to them. By offering these bundle options, you can provide a more diverse checkout and convenient ticketing process for your guests, making it easier for them to enjoy all that your wine tour event has to offer. 

Here are some help articles to learn more about bundle features:

• Sell Multiple Items Together in Bundles
• Customer Choice Bundles

Sell Tickets 

If you are looking to make your wine tour ticketing process a breeze, Passage’s mobile box office has got you covered. Passage is an online event ticketing company that allows you to effortlessly set up and manage your event, freeing up your time and energy. You can customize your ticket options to include early bird discounts, VIP packages, product and ticket bundles, or free virtual queues. We'll even provide valuable insights and analytics to help you optimize your marketing efforts and keep you informed of your transaction/ticket reports. Our team is dedicated to providing top-notch customer service and support, so selling your wine tour tickets on Passage is sure to boost sales and simplify the entire process.

Conclusion 

Hosting a wine tour can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for both organizers and attendees. By following these key steps, you can successfully organize a wine tour event that your guests will remember for years to come. Just make sure to prioritize your guests' safety and enjoyment throughout the planning process.

If you are interested in organizing a wine tour, feel free to sign up for a demo with our team to explore how we can help you achieve your wine tour goals.

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• WINE TOURS IN PA
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As we are a guided wine tour company reserve your guide today to prevent being blocked out.

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202 County Line Drive Lehighton, PA 18235 US

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Reserving your wine tour guide.

1. Personalized tour design – Larger tours with large groups of people cover a broader list of wineries and vineyards, some which may not be of interest. This can sometimes feel like a waste of time, which is very limited. Private PA wine tour guides design vineyards, sights and wineries with your group in mind.

2. Smaller groups – Guides in large groups sometimes seem more like lecturers in a class of hundreds than a guide you paid to lead and teach you about the wineries and vineyards.  With our privately guided PA wine tours, your guide is there for you, your group, your friends and family. There are not dozens of people to contend with for the guide’s attention. He or she is more than willing to show you around and answer all of your questions.  

3. Flexibility – Due to how many people are on larger public tours and how many subsequent public tours the guide might have scheduled for that day, there is not much time to stop and take in the more interesting sights you come across. In private guided wine tours the schedule is more flexible. For a nominal fee, tours can often be extended or booked for consecutive days with the very same guide. 

4. Saving time – Knowing the best things to see and do can be difficult, especially with limited time. On larger public wine tours you waste time seeing things that may not be of interest. Not only are private wine tour guides knowledgeable locals who are able to make recommendations, they ask questions and design tours with you in mind.

5. Communication – When visiting new wineries and vineyards, it is helpful to be able to communicate with the owners or managers to enhance the experience. Private guides are locals who have professional relationships with the owners and the staff of various wineries and vineyards. Our PA wine tour guides have the inside scoop and the professional relationships that turn your wine tour into an in depth experience. 

6. Saving money – A private guide can save you money by avoiding the amateurs and mundane and taking you to the professional vineyard and wineries. You avoid the tourist trap type establishments and will be exposed to professional generational wineries and vineyards and their authentic operations.

7. Cultural insight and protection – Every PA winery and vineyard has its own cultural traditions and expectations. For example, most wineries and vineyards will not allow guests to travel into the growing operation. With added insights from our knowledgeable wine tour guide, you can avoid embarrassment or worse, being expelled from the wineries. As you and your guests will be tasting wines some may get tipsy or boisterous. Our guide is experienced at handling such guests and preventing the experience from turning into sour grapes. As the saying goes, one bad apple, Or grape, can spoil the whole batch, our guides prevent these situations from arising. 

8. Host instead of Guide – By reserving your PA Winery Tour guide you immediately assume the roles of a host and alleviate the chore and guesswork of being a guide, can spoil the whole batch, our guides prevent these situations from arising. 

9. Learn about history and context from your local tour guide – By reserving your PA Winery Tour guide you immediately assume the roles of a host and alleviate the chore and guesswork of being a guide, can spoil the whole batch, our guides prevent these situations from arising. 

10. Discover unique details and stories about the destination winery – Uncovering the stories and details of the vineyards and Pennsylvania wineries that we will visit makes them come alive and will cement them in your memory. For many, the stories behind what they see are important in making their PA wine tour  special.

11. Learn about thelocal food culture –Apart from being delicious, food is central to most cultures. Taking a tour with a local PA winery tour guide means you learn about the importance of ingredients and dishes to the local people that compliment the wines that are produced locally. When your wine tour is completed you will go to local cafés and restaurants and avoid mass produced tourist traps with the knowledge that your tour guide provides. All over the world wine tours and experiences are the perfect way to learn about cultures and cuisines.

12. Support the local community – Local wine tour guides and the wineries that they provide tours of are predominantly local businesses. This means your travel spend is directly impacting the local community. Recently I was shocked to learn about the impact of short trip tourism on local economies. Why is this important? 

For example the pretty Belgian city of Bruges welcomes 7 million visitors a year however only 1 million of those stay overnight. Day trippers contribute very little to the local economy meaning that maintaining historical sites is difficult and the local way of life is under threat.

By hiring PA Wine Tours as your local wine tour guide you are directly supporting the local economy and people, helping to preserve the sights for future visitors. Some of our multi day and multi winery wine tours offer a deeper and more immersive experience connecting travelers with local wineries on a more inside level. By planning a fully immersive experience with PA Wine Tours you will further support the wineries and their employees. These tours will impact local guest houses, bed and breakfasts and hoteliers while providing a more “live like a local” experience.

13. Uncover lesser known facts and places of interest – Our wine tour guests always get a bit of a thrill when they learn of a new fact or place that is out of the way and a bit unusual? There may not be time permitting to visit this little gem yet the information is saved for later exploration. Most of our wine tour guests love searching beyond the obvious and finding places that aren’t on the popular winery tourist routes. We are quite sure that they would never have discovered these little gems had they not arranged a private wine tour with PA Wine Tours.

14. Take in the views from another angle – While I am a big fan of simply wandering around a city exploring, sometimes your feet need a rest from walking. Sitting back on a wine tour bus is a great way for our guests to appreciate the local sights and sounds.

Private wine tours are great ways to discover cities and regions as well as the wineries that are located in them. Your wine tour  guide will offer insight on best and worst local information so that you can maximize your local experience after your tour is complete and your set free to live like a local for the remainder of your trip. 

15. Meet fellow wine enthusiasts – By hiring a PA Wine Tours to conduct your Pennsylvania wine country group tour you are freeing yourself to become part of the experience. Even though you remain the host of your wine tour your guide does all of the planning and hard work while you receive all of the accolades for a once in a lifetime five star experience. This enables you to experience the tour as your guests do instead of it being a working trip. Our experienced wine tour guides taking control of the experience enables you to connect with our guests and other people on your travels. Your wine tour guide being in control offers you as the host a wonderful opportunity to sit and chat over a delicious snack and lovely wine instead of worrying about details. There is something about sharing a meal that connects people. After you return home from your Pennsylvania wine tour and you reflect on the experience you may find yourself thinking “I probably would not have experienced that if I was “playing tour guide” instead of hosting and would have missed one of my all time travel highlights.”

16. Learn about local art, artists and festivals – Wine tours are great ways to discover a city’s art scene, galleries and festivals. Sure you can spend time on your own searching and come up empty handed. Your PA Wine Tours guide knows the inside scoop on what to do and when to do it and shares that information so that your tour group can maximize their stay. 

17. Gain a fresh perspective from your local wine tour guide– Tour guides are usually very talented and interesting people. It takes a certain amount of confidence and passion to be a tour guide and I have rarely come across one that does not add deep insight and a sense of fun into their tours. 

18. Save time and skip the line – If you are short on time or low on patience our Pennsylvania Wine Tours enable you and your group to skip the line at many wineries. Our relationships with various wineries and vineyards allows us to pre-arrange your groups visit, paying in advance and arranging special behind the scenes experiences for some wineries.

19. Favorite local tour guide and experience resources – Checking the offerings at the local tourism office and at your accommodation when you arrive might seem like a good idea however you will most likely find many of the best tours are booked before you arrive. Make sure you use our booking submission form on this page and begin the trouble free process of arranging your PA Wine Tour in advance. Be sure to book well in advance to secure your dates and the best presentations at the best wineries. The quickest and easiest way to do this is using our online submission form found on this page.

PA Wine Tours guests seated at wood picnic table tasting red wines

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Explore Arizona's Wine Regions

An Unexpected Vintage

Wine Country

Wineries in arizona.

Arizona's diversity shines through in its people, its experiences and even its landscapes — a choice few of which present the perfect conditions for growing grapes.

Will travel for wine? Arizona entered the wine business back in the 1970s and created a wine culture today that honors the agricultural bounty of the state’s high deserts and the dedication of the people who tend the vines at more than 30 wineries in Arizona. Tasting rooms have elevated Arizona’s wine reputation even in areas far removed from the vineyards. Restaurants and bars statewide, in small towns and big cities, have added the flavors of Arizona to their menus. Wherever your travels take you, cheers to Arizona.

Southern Arizona Wine Country

With climate and soil conditions comparable to wine regions in California and Argentina, Arizona’s southern high deserts made the state a major player in international wine circles. Willcox and Sonoita are the most prolific Arizona wine regions, with their vast valley farmlands producing nearly three quarters of the state’s grapes to produce award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot varietals. Sonoita was the first location in Arizona to be designated as an American Viticultural Area. Willcox followed and the Verde Valley recently joined the trio. See the handiwork of passionate growers and makers at the tasting rooms in Sonoita and Willcox during your wine country tour of Southern Arizona.

North & Central Arizona Wine Country

The neighboring cities of Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Cornville, Camp Verde and Sedona have created a vibrant wine culture in central Arizona. The Verde Valley’s climate has much in common with Mediterranean wine growing regions. Volcanic soils, mild winters and summers with hot days and cool nights produce grapes with thick skins, dark colors and big flavors. Tasting rooms transformed Old Town Cottonwood from a sleepy historic main street into a bustling collection of shops and eateries that attract visitors year-round. Wineries in Cornville and Sedona set up their tasting rooms along the banks of beautiful Oak Creek, and even rugged Jerome and Camp Verde show their softer side with fine wine pairings at area eateries. Plus, wine growing is literally part of the curriculum at Yavapai College, where its Southwest Wine Center operates a student-run estate vineyard that offers vine-to-bottle education.

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How to Plan a Wine Tour in Piedmont – Tips and Advice

Published by Jeremy .

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If you're like us, your first thoughts when it comes to booking a wine tour in Piedmont is all about Barolo. Arguably one of the most famous wines in the world, and the most acclaimed Nebbiolo on the planet, Barolo has lifted Piedmont's reputation as a fine wine producing region to the likes of Burgundy and Napa in recent decades.

But Piedmont wineries offer far more than fine, ageable Barolo and produce numerous grapes, styles of wine, and in many regions spread throughout Piedmont as a whole.

So in this Piedmont wine region guide we wanted to take a look at the wine region overall, the grapes and wines produced, give tips for planning a visit, share highly rated wineries you may want to visit, and more!

If you're planning a trip to Piedmont to go wine tasting, this guide is for you!

Piedmont Wine Region Location and Styles

Piedmont is a province in northwest Italy, and its central town in the wine region, Alba, is located approximately two hours southwest of Milan and 90 minutes southeast of Turin by car. Public transportation does exist to reach Alba directly, but as the wine region is somewhat sprawling and remote, it is best explored with a rental car picked up at one of the major airports nearby.

The wine region's location in northern Italy may make you think it should not be suitable for the production of wine, but as this one is sheltered by mountains to the north, west, and south (the Alps and the Apennines, respectively), the region is warmer and drier than you'd otherwise expect. This allows late-ripening grapes like Nebbiolo to be grown as well as other varieties like Dolcetto, Barbera, Arneis, Cortese, Moscato, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and many more.

Ultimately, most visitors to Piedmont are attracted to the famous subregion of Barolo, arguably the most acclaimed growing region for Nebbiolo, where the phrase “the wine of kings, the king of wines” originated. These grapes are immensely flavorful, aromatic, highly tannic, and have an aging potential for decades (many locals will say the sweet spot is 10-15 years of age at a minimum!).

Although expensive and ageable Barolo is what put Piedmont on the wine map, more approachable Nebbiolos are being made with each passing year (both Langhe Nebbiolo and those with the Barolon name), and additional subregions of Barbaresco (Nebbiolo), Dogliani (Dolcetto), Asti (sparkling Moscato), and Gavi (Cortese) produce award-winning wines that all visitors should try to sample during a visit.

The struggle visitors may have when visiting Piedmont is simply that any given wine subregion is small, but the overall area of Piedmont is quite large. It is quite easy to drive across Barolo in about 10-15 minutes. If you are in Barolo town you can be in Dogliani in just about 20 minutes. But conversely, both of these are 20-40 minutes away from Barbaresco and Asti, and all of those are one to two hours away from Gavi proper!

The good news is that visitors to Piedmont do not necessarily have to drive to every subregion to try all the wines listed above, as many top producers own vineyards in the famous subregions to have a varied portfolio. So do not be surprised if you are sitting in a winery in Barolo yet sipping on a Dolcetto made in Dogliani or a Barbaresco!

That said, take a bit of extra time to plan your wineries accordingly to try as many grapes as possible, not just Barolo. You never know what grape you'll walk away calling a new favorite (for us it was Arneis!).

When to Visit Piedmont?

Piedmont, like most wine regions, is a place that experiences all four seasons. Winters are cold, snowy, and sleepy; summers are hot, bustling, and vibrant; and the shoulder seasons are becoming increasingly popular for those wanting to visit with reduced crowds.

There is no generally “bad” time to visit Piedmont; however, it is worth noting that many wineries close down over the winter months, may not offer tours during harvest (late August to early September), and wineries may periodically be closed to attend national and international tradeshows throughout the year.

As such, the best times to visit Piedmont are perhaps anytime after mid-March to late November, with the early months being what is often considered high season and from July to November typically being peak season.

You may find it unusual that peak season extends through November despite harvest being in early September, and this is because the months of October and November typically coincide with the White Truffle Fair in Alba. This event brings visitors from around the world to the (admittedly relatively small) town of Alba to try this rare and incredibly expensive mushroom. Naturally, in being a stone's throw away from the wine regions, visitors here often head out to enjoy wine tasting through the end of November.

Overall, unless you are visiting in the true off-season, it is safe to say that Piedmont is a fairly busy tourist destination almost year-round, and as such, visitors should plan to make reservations in advance, be it for hotels, winery visits, truffle tours or more but make them especially far in advance if you are planning to visit during the truffle fair or for other peak season activities as prime reservations book up months and months ahead of time.

• We visited Piedmont in late May and had a fairly easy time making reservations and did not feel the region was  too busy just yet. That said, we booked most of our wineries about two months ahead of time and some were already fully booked for our dates!

Planning Where to Stay in Piedmont

Determining where to stay in Piedmont for your wine adventure can vary considerably based on your interests. Although we have a complete breakdown at the previous link, there are three key travel styles and corresponding locations we think are worth highlighting:

• Staying in an apartment in the Barolo region (outside of Barolo town)
• Booking a hotel or apartment in a small town like Barolo or La Morra
• Staying in Alba for more city-like amenities either in an apartment or hotel

You can't go wrong with these options, as they all offer incredible experiences for each individual travel style.

Staying in an apartment rental in wine country can give the best views and the closest proximity to vineyards. Towns offer more wine bars and restaurant options by foot which are great for end-of-day enjoyment, but may have some parking logistics to consider such as ZTL zones or narrow, hilly roads. Alba is a larger town in between the Barolo and Asti wine regions (right next to Barbaresco) that, while outside the vineyard regions proper, offers an excellent base for those visiting all of the subregions while offering the most food options when you're back for the day.

We stayed in the Barolo countryside and within Alba proper and liked both for these reasons. When hitting Barolo wineries, most were just a 5-10 minute drive away from our countryside apartment, and when we stayed in Alba we used an off-day to eat our way around town and an exploring day to head into Asti and Barbaresco. As such, if you can manage to do both and don't mind switching accommodations once, you'll get two incredibly different experiences from a single trip.

• It is worth noting that central Alba is a ZTL no-driving zone for visitors. We picked an apartment rental just on the edge of the ZTL zone, parked at a metered spot a block away, dropped our bags off, and then parked the car in Piazza Medford's free parking lot- just about a 10-minute walk from central Alba. If you plan to stay in any town, confirm parking logistics ahead of time as you may not be able to drive right up to your property!

As mentioned at the start of this guide, the cities of Milan and Turin are also a short drive away. While it would be doable to stay in Turin and visit Piedmont as a day trip, as it is just over an hour away by car, we simply cannot recommend this outside of taking a tour . First is because no one wants an hour-plus drive after a long day of visiting wineries, and second is simply because driving in those cities is, in a word, stressful.

We never drive in major cities in Italy due to the congestion, intensity, and even more ZTL zones (often with higher fines), so we always advocate picking up your car at the airport, leaving for the wine region immediately, and dropping the car off before heading into any major city. Explore them if you have time- just without a car!

• Special Discount : Are you looking to stay in the countryside of Asti during your visit? Our friends at Relais Almaranto outside of Canelli are offering a special discount to readers of The Grape Pursuit! Use the code GRAPE10 to receive 10% off bookings of 2 nights or more and enjoy other perks like a welcome drink on arrival, breakfast, and 10% off dining at their on-site restaurants! Click here to check them out! (Offer valid January 1st to December 29th, 2024)

Driving in Piedmont vs. Guided Tours

Safety is always the number one concern when driving in any wine region, which naturally extends to Piedmont. As wineries are often quite remote, the quality of roads can vary considerably. Throw on the fact that wine is an intoxicant and many countries have strict drinking and driving laws, and there are many risks to consider.

Thankfully, driving in Piedmont is relatively straightforward. The roads are mostly paved, fairly wide by wine region standards, easy to navigate, and have ample signage for towns and wineries (although, admittedly are rather sparse for speed limits).

As with other regions in Italy, Piedmont's towns have some ZTL zones to keep in mind, speed cameras are present (typically around the entrance/exits of towns), and some towns that are on hilltops may have narrow and windy side streets that may give drivers a reason to pause. We attempted to dine at one restaurant on top of a hill in a town and, upon turning on a side road, realized that was a bad idea, backed up, parked in a public parking lot in the town square, and walked the rest of the way which only took an additional five or so minutes.

Honestly, we'd go as far as saying Piedmont was one of our easiest drives in Italy to date, and we don't make that statement lightly!

Ultimately, the two most significant risks in driving in Piedmont are dealing with bikers (a popular activity in the wine region- bikers were everywhere!) and driving after a tasting. Italy's drinking and driving limit is 0.05% which for some visitors is relatively low, especially considering most Barolo is 14-15%. As such, having a designated driver, hired driver, or spitting is always recommended.

For those who are driving in from a major city, like Turin or Milan, it is also worth noting that most of the major highways in the region have tolls. These are fairly easy to navigate and, as of our visit at least, were ticketed with a pay station upon exit. We always made sure to have some loose Euro coins available to pay these to make things easier as the fees were fairly reasonable.

• Looking to pick up a car rental for exploring Piedmont? Click here to check out prices .
• For a larger discussion of driving in Piedmont tips, check out our sister blog Living the Dream!

For those who want to go on dedicated wine tours, you're in luck. There are many great tour options to explore Piedmont wineries via tours from Alba , tours from Turin , biking tours , and even combined truffle and wine tasting tours as well. So if you want to check out wineries without having to worry about driving yourself, many options exist with local pickups.

Wineries in Piedmont to Consider

Piedmont is home to numerous subregions of critical acclaim. Barolo is the most famous for its highly rated Nebbiolo, but other subregions are worth exploring just a short drive away. These include Dogliani for Dolcetto, Asti for Moscato, and Barbaresco for more approachable Nebbiolo to name a few. Others, like Gavi for Cortese, are an hour or two away but are still included in Piedmont for discussion purposes (sadly, we did not make it out that far and only researched wineries there on a limited basis!).

While these regions are typically famous for a single grape, as noted above, many wineries own vineyard plots throughout Piedmont. This allows them to make a variety of Piedmontese wines which may be available in a single tasting room. As such, it isn't a surprise to see a Dogliani Dolcetto on a tasting menu while in Barolo, an Asti on the menu while in Barbaresco, a Barolo while in Asti, a Langhe Nebbiolo in Barolo, and so on.

As a result of this, you do not necessarily need to visit every wine region to try all of the styles of wine available in Piedmont; however, we still recommend visiting several regions if time allows for two main reasons:

• Winemakers that specialize in a single subregion/style tend to make better wine, and, not surprisingly, their tasting room is often found in the same region. Dolcetto grown in Dogliani is delicious across the board, but producers specializing in Dogliani were much higher quality. We only got to visit those since we spent an afternoon in Dogliani.
• All of the sub-regions are beautiful and worth being explored. Most all regions had similar geography to Barolo, we'll admit, but when you're that close, you may as well go out and explore as much as possible!

As with all of our wine guides, we researched numerous wineries to find producers that were highly rated by consumers, have been featured positively by critics, and, most importantly, had publicly available tours at the time of publication (most with advanced reservation).

While we only got a chance to visit a handful of Piedmont wineries during our visit (click the previous link to read our thoughts on those), the following should be a great starting point for those looking for quality producers that typically offer tours and/or tastings.

For ease of navigation, we grouped wineries by their closest major subregion. This is based on geography only, without any other filter. Wineries under Dogliani are simply grouped as they're south of Barolo in or near the Dogliani region. Some within the grouping may specialize in Dolcetto grown in the delineated area of Dogliani, but some may specialize in another grape entirely (e.g. Nebbiolo for Langhe Nebbiolo). Wineries grouped in Asti are simply north/northeast of Barbaresco and Alba and, for the same reason, may not specialize in the regional sparkling wine of the same name (Contratto, for example, makes traditional method sparkling, not Asti sparkling, despite being more or less in the Asti region).

Likewise, some of the below may be wineries with facility tours, and others may be tasting rooms only.

As these groupings are our best attempt to lump wineries together geographically, we recommend reconfirming tasting room locations, styles produced, and any tour offerings before making any bookings.

• Cordero di Montezemolo
• Cascina Fontana
• E. Pira & Figli (our favorite!)
• Rocche dei Manzoni
• Paolo Scavino
• G.B. Burlotto
• Marchesi di Barolo
• Elvio Cogno
• Francesco Boschis
• Marziano Abbona
• Poderi Luigi

Barbaresco / Neive

• Paitin di Pasquero
• Castello di Neive
• Produttori del Barbaresco
• Fiorenzo Nada
• Marchesi dei Gresy
• La Spinetta
• Caudrina Romano Dogliotti
• Matteo Soria
• Monchiero Carbone
• Pico Maccario
• Roberto Sarotto

Buying and Shipping Wine in Piedmont

If there is one unusual element to visiting Piedmont, it would be that many wineries we visited did not sell their wine on-site.

The root of this problem stems from the fact that high-quality producers often have limited production. Their inventory is highly sought after and is sold to local stores and distributors as soon as they are legally allowed to. These wineries retain a few bottles to do tastings in-house, but we had a recurring issue of being unable to buy from our favorite producers directly.

As such, for these producers, we found ourselves scouring wine stores in the nearby towns and villages to see if we could find bottles.

Shopping outside of direct purchases then presents another issue simply because you never know how well a bottle of wine has been stored. Has it been standing upright for years or decades? What temperatures has it seen? Did it go through any other hands? Is the markup fair? We could go on.

Thankfully, we found almost all the wines we wanted to purchase at one store in Barolo town- La Vite Turchese .

This is one part wine bar that will Coravin just about any bottle you want and one part impressive wine store that buys virtually all its wine direct from the wineries. Throw on the fact that they often had the best prices of any wine store we visited (offering a favorite bottle of ours from Pira & Figli for about 105 euros instead of 135 Euros elsewhere), and we can safely say we bought more there than anywhere else.

Outside of that, when in doubt, look for wine shops that are temperature controlled, store their bottles sideways, and talk about any direct relationships they have with the wineries. Keep an eye on prices, cross reference, and then compare with options at places like La Vite Turchese or even distributors/sellers at home. (Likewise, we found better prices/availability at shops in Barolo over bigger towns/cities like Alba and Turin- your mileage may vary here.)

Comparing with availability at home is key, especially for larger producers, as we found wineries like G.D. Vajra, Spinetta, and Contratto to sell bottles on-site for virtually the same price that we could purchase them in the USA (for the bottles that are distributed, at least). In this instance, we noted what wines we liked, purchased bottles that were not exported on-site, and did our shopping for exported wines when we returned home- saving precious costs in transporting our bottles!

For those who are looking to take wine home with you, there are generally three popular options to consider, each with pros and cons associated:

• Having a winery ship a box for you directly
• Buying wine and shipping via a dedicated courier
• Taking wine home as checked luggage

Wineries are typically able to ship wine, pending their inventory, and in our experience in Italy may offer two options.

The first is shipping directly from Italy, where you can buy bottles at the local price and pay an (often exorbitant) fee to ship bottles to your home. This generally is best for those who live in Europe over those overseas as internal EU shipping can be quite reasonable. The second is, in some cases, that a winery can take orders via their distributor in your home country and have the wine shipped from there. When available, the bottle prices tend to be a bit higher as they factor in shipping overseas already (the winery is simply facilitating the sale), but local shipping is often much lower.

In Piedmont, we have to admit that we found these options to be somewhat few and far between compared to other regions in Italy, but part of this had to do with some wineries not having any wines available to sale or wide international distribution to begin with (as noted above). That said, these two options are typically best explored only by those who are looking to buy 6-12+ bottles from any given winery to take advantage of economies of scale in shipping, which for a premium bottle like Barolo may price most consumers out rather quickly (we only bought 6+ bottles from precisely one producer, E. Pira & Figlia, and they had no bottles in inventory- we had to find them at local stores).

Dedicated couriers offer shipping services for wine within Piedmont, and many stores can be found on the main road outside Barolo and around Alba. We went to Mail Boxes Etc. just outside of Alba to pick up a shipping box and found they had options to ship wine internationally and pay duties/customs as part of it. This option is suitable for those who buy enough wine from several wineries/stores but don't want the hassle of dealing with the wine in your own luggage (think 6-12+ bottles accumulated from several sources). Take them all to Mail Boxes Etc. or another shipping store, package them up, pay a lump fee, and off you go (this often comes at a fair premium, too, pending how far you're shipping and any respective tax/duty due).

The final option is taking wine bottles in your suitcase via Wine Skins or using wine shipping boxes / wine suitcases as an extra piece of checked luggage. The aforementioned Mail Boxes Etc. store sold boxes with styrofoam wine inserts for about 10 Euro for a dozen bottle capacity. We bought two and then paid for the boxes to travel as our second checked bag for about 100 Euro each- a bit cheaper than rates we saw for shipping and we didn't have to give up our bottles for weeks. Between those boxes and our Wine Skins for putting wine in our suitcases, we brought about 36 bottles home for an average price of about 6.50 Euros a bottle.

Non-Wine Activities in Piedmont

While we could argue that Piedmont's star attraction is the wine regions themselves, there are many great activities to enjoy near the vineyards and further away.

Piedmont is known for its truffle production, and truffle hunting tour s (both with and without truffle and wine tastings) are offered just outside of Alba town. In October and November, the annual White Truffle Festival takes over the town. It brings visitors from far and wide to go shopping and eat truffle-loaded cuisine (book your accommodation and wineries significantly far in advance if visiting during this time!).

Biking is a popular activity within the wine regions, and on a nice day, you'll see dozens of bikes out on the windy and twisty roads of Barolo and other nearby regions. Piedmont is also home to many giant benches worth seeking out for photo ops, and the colorful Barolo Chapel just outside of La Morra is worth the 3-4 minute detour on a gravel road to check out, too.

For those who like to eat, Piedmont is an acclaimed food region with many local styles of cuisine, a disproportionate number of critically acclaimed restaurants (particularly in Alba), and many Michelin-star dining experiences like Ristorante Borgo Sant'Anna in Barolo and Piazza Duomo in Alba to name a few (read our reviews at the previous links!). Go in expecting to eat a lot of meat!

Further to the west is Turin, the capital of Piedmont, with many great museums dedicated to the history of automobiles, the former Fiat factory whose test track is still open, and more. Two hours to the north is the gorgeous Lake Orta, home to a beautiful island monastery and many hiking opportunities in the foothills of the Alps.

As such, while you may plan for just a few days in the wine region to go tasting, you can truly make an entire trip from a visit to Piedmont if you are willing to venture out past the wine region proper. If you are thinking of making a larger trip to Piedmont, we recommend checking out our article on how many days you need in Piedmont where we cover the other non-wine activities in more depth!

Overall, Piedmont is a pretty amazing place to explore in northwest Italy for the wine and the many other unique historical and natural attractions. But if you are planning on hitting Piedmont for wine tasting, do yourself a favor and expand your horizons beyond just exploring Barolo, book that rental car , add on an extra day or two if you are able, and really do this one justice!

Have you visited Piedmont on a wine tour before? What were your experiences like? Comment below to share!

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How to plan a wine-tasting tour of Armenia

As Armenia prepares to host the 8th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism between 11-13 September 2024, we round up the top wine regions and vineyards in the country that oenophiles shouldn't miss.

Before written history began, when humans first abandoned flint and began to fashion tools from copper and bronze, the Armenians were making wine. Indigenous grapes, cultivated in the country’s vast, mountainous valleys, were aged in cave-kept clay caskets called karas and churned into wine using various ancient methods for over 6,000 years. Today, Armenian vintners continue to till the land, working with the helter-skelter topography to create unique vintages and preserve the nation’s intangible viniculture heritage. This dedication to their craft has been recognised as Armenian wines continue to increase in global popularity and the country has been selected to host the 8th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism this year. Here’s how to plan a grape escape of the country’s vineyards.

Some 40 valleys comprise the Armenian uplands — a vast, elevated region in the South Caucasus, that's characterised by mountain ranges and high plateaus. In southwest Armenia, between Mount Aragats and Mount Ararat, is a historically significant valley that has been devoted to agriculture since the pre-Christian era, due to its favourable climate and terroir. Here you'll find the Armavir region with an altitude that varies from 900 to 1,000 metres above sea level, which is perfect for cultivating various native and international grapes, from Kangun, Garan Dmak, Mskhali and Haghtanak to Malbec, Montepulciano, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

To get a taste of the wines on offer in Armavir, travellers can pair an excursion to its ancient ecclesiastical complexes with a venture into the vineyards, starting at Alluria Wines . This family-run business produces all-natural wines, made from native varieties fermented with wild, indigenous yeasts. Next, pay a visit to Karas Wine , named after the traditional clay vessels that have been used in the wine fermentation process since the Bronze Age. Take a guided tour to learn how the winery is recycling and restoring these ancient instruments to ferment and age 21st-century wines, followed by a drive through its volcanic soil vineyards. Move on to Voskeni Wines , a family-owned favourite, where visitors can pair their age-old blends with a traditional dish at the on-site restaurant and enjoy views of the mighty Mount Ararat from the terrace.  

Even in biblical records, the verdant foothills of Mount Ararat were carefully cultivated. Row upon row of tightly wound vines grow green against the backdrop of the colossal mountain, a feature so omnipresent that it’s become a symbol of Armenia itself. In its namesake province, farmers cultivate orchards of peaches and apricots, as well as vineyards producing red Haghtanak grapes.

To sample some local wines in the shadow of this emblematic mountain, travellers can drive roughly half an hour south of the capital, Yerevan, to Tushpa Wine Cellar in the village of Taperakan. Here, locally sourced grapes are aged in Caucasian oak barrels to create rich reds, such as the small family run Givany Winery , which remain true to local tradition. Afterwards, head to the neighbouring village of Ginevet to visit Vedi Alco , whose wines are made using Haghtanak grapes and native pomegranates and apricots.  

Vayots Dzor

The province of Vayots Dzor, whose name translates to ‘whining gorge’ due to its frequent seismic activities, is perhaps the most well-known and prominent of all of Armenia’s winemaking regions. First inhabited in the early Bronze Age, this prehistoric settlement houses the world’s oldest known winery, the Areni-1 cave complex, where a 2007 excavation uncovered fermentation vats, storage jars, a wine press and shards of pottery that dated back more than 6,100 years. The area is also the birthplace of the country’s signature black grape, Sev Areni. Today, the grape is still used to create high-quality dry wines, characterised by their ruby colour, silky tannins and spicy aromas.  

Travellers should tour the Vayots Dzor Highlands between the village of Areni and the city of Yeghegnadzor for wineries. Venues including Trinity Canyon Vineyards and Hin Areni Winery range from sleek operations to family-run farms. Another of the highlights is Zorah Wines, whose flagship wine, Karasi, is acclaimed by worldwide rankings. Visitors can round off their time in this region with a visit to Noa in Aghavnadzor, an estate which draws its name and inspiration from the biblical originator of vineyard cultivation, Noah, who was said to have planted the first vines on Mount Ararat.

Close to the village of Voskevaz in Aragatsotn, lies Saint Hovhannes, a seventh-century basilica that stands in semi-ruin. Its excavation revealed ancient clay karas   and other evidence that its inhabitants had been making communion wine there for some 1,500 years. These medieval vintners are thought to have used grapes cultivated in the southern Ararat valley and transported them to the northerly region of Aragatsotn.

Learn all about this viticultural history at the Wine Museum of Armenia in Sasunik at the Armenia Wine Company , which presents the chronological stages of the development of Armenian wine, as well as its relationship with various areas of Armenian history and culture. A short drive onwards is Van Ardi , an award-winning boutique winery, where it's believed there's more to great-tasting wine than just the quality of the soil and weather, and where the vines are serenaded with classical, jazz and Armenian compositions from the bell tower. Voskevaz Winery is another great option to sample wines, made from endemic grapes aged in karas and Armenian oak barrels.

Characterised by sheer, mottled cliffs and scenic alpine lakes, the mountainous region of Tavush marks the Georgia-Armenia border. Tavush’s alpine vineyards are made up of around 2,500 acres, many of which are devoted to growing Lalvari grapes, an indigenous grape variety used in light white and sparkling wines.

Get a taste of the northerly blends at Ijevan Wine-Brandy Factory , the main producer in the region and the most prolific wine enterprise in Armenia. Visitors can take a tour through its seemingly endless rows of vines and of the cellar where vintages have been aged since the 1970s. Then, have a go at producing your very own sparkling wine at Hovaz Wine Rooms , mixing different wines to make a personal and completely unique taste.

Peppered with the vestiges of Armenia’s ancient past, including Greco-Roman ruins and vast monastical complexes, the province of Kotayk has long drawn culturally inclined travellers. It’s also one of Armenia’s most innovative viticulture regions. Pay a visit to Manukyan Brandy Factory to learn about the entire production process, from manufacturing bottles to stoppering blends. Leaning on high-tech European equipment and the sun, soil and grapes of the Armenian highlands, the wines and brandies blended on site seamlessly merge modernity and tradition.

While its airy avenues and rose-hued facades won’t place travellers amid the agricultural action, Yerevan’s multitude of wine bars are ideal for those seeking unique wine experiences. Visit Gevorkian Winery , the modern progenitors of the Kakhani   method — an ancient technique that involves drying grapes from Vayots Dzor on ropes to create delicate dry and dessert wines. The winery is also the only one in the capital offering up ice wines, a golden concoction drawn from glaciated grapes.

Embrace full immersion at Wine & Grapes Spa , with wine bathing, wine steaming, grape pulp skin peels and massages with grape seed oil all on offer. Finish up on Saryan Street, also known as the 'wine street of Yerevan'. A leafy thoroughfare packed with bustling eateries and quaint, wooden wine bars, head to places such as In Vino , which serves local tipples alongside delicious meat and cheese platters, or visit Decant , a three-year-old wine shop and tasting room . If you can, visit in early June to try country-wide samples at the annual Yerevan Wine Days festival.

Related Topics

• FINE CUISINE

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How To Plan A Luxury Vacation In Cape Town, South Africa

S outh Africa is one the best countries to visit, delivering everything from traditional African culture to unforgettable luxury vacation experiences. Cape Town, specifically, is the premier destination in South Africa for an epic experience on the continent. From amazing restaurants to special occasion excursions, the Mother City is one the top cities in Africa for luxury travel.

If you’re looking for a top-tier travel experience, here are some recommendations for how to stay, play, and gourmet in Cape Town.

Book A Stay At The Silo Hotel

Located in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, The Silo Hotel is one of the most exclusive places to stay in the city. The uniquely-designed property is situated in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex occupying six floors above the Zeitz Museum Of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). With 360-degree views from Table Mountain to Robben Island, The Silo Hotel is dripping in luxury from its aesthetic to its services.

In addition to being a high-end accommodation, guests can relax at the spa or enjoy the rooftop pool. Tea lovers must indulge in taking afternoon tea while overlooking Table Mountain. The Silo Hotel also offers guided tours of its private art collection containing over 300 pieces of contemporary African art. Along with concierge service, airport transfers, and 24-hour guest services, there will be little reason to lift a finger during your stay.

Choose from six categories of rooms, including family suites and a spacious one-bedroom penthouse. Room rates vary depending on the season, with nightly rates in June and July around $800 per night and peak season rates averaging $1,100 nightly.

Rent A Villa For Your Group In Camps Bay

Camps Bay sits on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, attracting crowds for its beautiful beaches and mesmerizing views. Along the coast of this affluent suburb of Cape Town, you’ll find upscale seafood restaurants, relaxing cafes, and cocktail bars. Aside from its peaceful atmosphere, Camps Bay also has some of the most impressive villas for a luxury stay.

Luxury villa rentals are typically best for those who want ultra-luxury accommodations or for groups who prefer to stay together. Villas in Camps Bay currently range from $842 to $8,713 per night on AirBNB . However, you can also book directly with certain properties. These modern homes often include a private pool, hot tub, and sea and mountain views in every direction.

Dine At The World-Renowned Nobu

Located inside the One&Only Cape Town, a luxury waterfront resort, Nobu gives luxury from the minute you step out of the car. Nobu is known as the world’s most revered Japanese restaurant and a go-to spot for celebrities and notable figures. Serving Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, Nobu Cape Town is the only restaurant in the group on the African continent.

Unlike other locations around the world, Nobu Cape Town delivers a luxury dining experience at a much more affordable price. The menu is fairly extensive, with its Omakase multi-course tasting menu as one of the popular options for the full Nobu experience.

Visit The Black-Owned Wine Farm Klein Goederust

Klein Goederust is a boutique winery with origins that date back to 1905. In 2019 the Siguqa family acquired the property, making it the first and only Black-owned wine farm in the Franschhoek wine region. Inspired by the family matriarch Nomaroma Siguqa, a lifelong Cape wine farm laborer, the property’s century-old vineyard and historic buildings have since been renovated.

Today, Klein Goederust is a beautiful destination to visit while in Cape Town. Their flagship product is the Nomaroma MCC, however, they also have a delicious Chenin Blanc and two reds — a Shiraz and a Cabernet-Merlot blend.

The winery is located an hour away from Cape Town’s city center. While you can arrive via a rideshare service like Uber, it’s best to reserve a car service to ensure an easy return to the city after your day in the vineyards.

Catch Aerial Views Of Cape Town With A Helicopter Tour

Cape Town has one of the most stunning landscapes you’ll find anywhere in the world. From the citywide landmarks that are Table Mountain and Lion’s Head to the epic meeting of two oceans – the Atlantic and Indian Oceans – there’s no better way to see the city than from the sky.

Treat yourself or someone special to a helicopter ride for aerial views of the Mother City. There are several companies to choose from, with rates averaging $115 for a 15- to 30-minute ride. Longer helicopter rides are also available, including 30-minute and 60-minute options to explore more of the city.

Head To The Winelands In A Chauffeured-Driven Jeep

Getting to Cape Town’s nearby wine regions takes a bit of planning in advance. You can book a public tour or take an Uber, but when it comes to luxury, private transit is the way to go.

Jeep Tours Cape Town offers a wide variety of services from private function transfer to planned wined tours. This female-owned company provides chauffeured-driven tours of Cape Town and its surrounding areas in specially designed Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Sip your way through the wine regions of Stellenbosch or Constantia while taking in the breathtaking views of each region.

Rates for a private Jeep wine tour experience range between $150 and $180 per person, on average. Tours range from five to eight hours, depending on your tour of choice. Along with a hotel pick-up, tours include a photo stop at lookout points, wine tastings, and a charcuterie board. Get extra fancy with optional add-ons of a gourmet picnic, fine dining lunch, or helicopter fly-in on the Stellenbosch tour. 

In addition to a wine farm tour, the company offers a range of tours to suit different interests. Take a dune tour or learn about the country’s history through a cultural tour. Adventure tours are also available and large groups can ride in style by reserving multiple vehicles for an epic day of exploring.

RELATED: The Most Beautiful Places To Stay In Cape Town, South Africa