How to Pack a Picnic for a Day of Wine Tasting

Member

By Nella Bella
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

Sitting in beautiful countryside tasting delicious wines is an experience that only can be enhanced by packing the perfect picnic. With a picnic, one is free to pack any food they'd like, but certain foods pair better with wine and the outdoors. If the group is wine savvy or experienced tasters, perhaps there will be a dedication to certain wine types and wineries. Or, going the typical way, the wine tasting will include reds, whites, in-betweens and maybe a brewery or two. Finger eating is the way to go and forget about doing any barbecuing-the emphasis is on tasting, not cooking.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Foods of choice
Utensils, conveyance

Step 1

Eat at midday. The picnic will be more like lunch and eaten after visiting a couple of wineries. Sandwiches, cheese, bread, crackers and fruit (grapes, anyone?) are classics. Cured meats and fish are delicious options. Dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with a dry red wine.
Step 2

Cool it. Even though the weather can get quite chilly, and even freezing to the vintner's dismay, the picnic food left in the car can spoil easily. Make sure there is enough ice to keep perishables safe.
Step 3

Package it pretty. Why lug lunch in a brown grocery bags? Keep with the beautiful surroundings and tote the goods in a basket with a red-checkered table cloth, or any cloth bag adds more romance. Even an ice chest has more character than a grocery sack.
Step 4

Remember the wine opener and other utensils. More than likely, new bottles of wine will be purchased on the trail leading to lunch. Along with the opener, pack some glasses, forks, spoons, knives, napkins, plates, wet-naps and a table cloth.

Tips & Warnings

Make it al fresco. Many wineries offer picnic tables, or at least plenty of grass. Spread out and make yourself comfortable. Lay down for a nap at the end, and you are ready for the next winery.
Save money by prepping the picnic before hitting the wineries. Sure, you can pick up items here and there, but specialty-boutique food comes with a pretty price tag.
Forget dishes with mayonnaise such as potato salads and the like. Grapes are grown in sunny regions; sun and mayonnaise don't mix.

Resources