Things You'll Need:
- Camera
- Map of wine region
- Picnic Basket (optional)
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Step 1
Choose the wine region you'd like to visit. If you can make it a day trip, great! If not, book yourself a cute little hotel and give yourself a day to meander and enjoy the sights. Wine tasting is an excellent romantic activity with picturesque fields. So bring your camera, too!
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Step 2
Consider a designated driver. You will be drinking and it's better to play it safe than sorry. Or, if someone feels like they got the short end of the stick, hire a cab or limousine and drink to your heart's content!
If you are driving and one of you is feeling tipsy, plan to hit 3 to 4 wineries over the course of the day and space out your visits. Better yet, take advantage of the outdoor tables and beautiful scenery and bring a picnic basket and enjoy a fun lunch! -
Step 3
Be open to new wines and regions. My wife and I thought we didn't like red Zinfandel until we traveled around Morro Bay and discovered that the region was known for that type of grape. We are now Zin-fanatics!
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Step 4
If driving yourself, try to map out a few wineries that are geographically close to each other, so that you're not spending most the day in the car.
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Step 5
Be sure to eat a full meal before setting out. You will be drinking alcohol and you'll end up getting wasted, quicker on an empty stomach.
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Step 6
Once at the winery, expect to pay around $5 to $10 per person for a wine tasting. Some wineries include a wine glass for you to keep; others don't. There are usually 5-7 wines they will allow you to taste, starting with whites moving onto the heavier reds.
If you want to save money, then buy only one tasting and share the glass. -
Step 7
Keep in mind, you don't have to drink the whole glass. Sipping is fine. The point isn't to get drunk (though, it's all right if it is). So don't worry about getting rid of your wine in the containers they provide.
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Step 8
Don't feel pressured to buy anything. You are there to taste. If something strikes your fancy, then by all means, go for it! Like house hunting, don't necessarily buy the first wine you taste. Hopefully, you have a whole afternoon ahead of you and the wine you thought you loved at the beginning may pale in comparison to a wine you taste later on.
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Step 9
Have fun! Wine tasting hosts all types from couples on romantic getaways to brides-to-be with their bachelorette party to wine snobs. Don't worry about the people around you. Remember the only opinion that counts is yours!
Comments
tikrit01 said
on 2/11/2009 Very thorough article with great tips! 5*s