Kristi Mayfield (00:00)

let's say you and your friends have been anxiously awaiting a trip to Napa Valley for months. And as wine lovers, it is the holy grail of wine travel destinations. And you wake up early, you look at your list of five wineries that you've planned to hit that day. And after a quick cup of coffee, you guys are off to the races. Winery one, walk in. What?

no available tastings. I mean we got here right when you're opening. Can't you make space for us? I get it you're frustrated. In fact you're mad and you walk away mad at yourself for assuming that reservations were not necessary. But with an entire day ahead of you you throw back your shoulders take a few minutes of sunshine in and you're off to your next target.

Now having already missed out on this first winery experience, you guys decide to make up for lost time. So you order a couple of bottles of wine that you like the most from the tasting and go out on the patio with a view of the winery. All of sudden you realize you didn't eat breakfast, you drank too fast and you need your ride.

to take you back to the hotel for a nap. Now you wake up at 6 p.m. You've missed the entire day of winery visits. Where did it all go wrong? If a trip to wine country is on your vacation hit list, this episode is for you. Today, we're going to learn the five top tips for planning and experiencing a memorable experience all within the next few minutes.

As a wine educator, traveling to wine regions is one of the best ways to get an insider view of winemakers, winemaking styles, regional influences, wine varieties, and of course, diversity, along with local cuisine and local culture. But there is a hazard of the trade when traveling in groups with others. On a recent trip, the group I was in had an ambitious goal.

they wanted to hit five wineries a day every day for three consecutive days. Now I'm all about getting as much in as possible but I had a feeling this was a disaster waiting to happen. On the first day we spent almost an hour longer at winery number one than we expected and the result we had no lunch break we had to rush to our second visit

and we arrived just on time. We were feeling a little rushed, but we settled in and we had a great experience tasting and learning about the winery. By winery number three, we were already another 30 minutes late for our appointment because we had to stop at a local gas station and grab some snacks just to get something in our stomachs. So for our fourth winery of the day, we were super late. We called ahead.

I apologized and I was able to convince the host that we were going to make it up to them and I informed every one of my group that they needed to buy a lot of wine, get those credit cards out because we had actually prevented that winery from taking on another group of guests because we missed our time. Our fifth visit of the day, we didn't even make it. So we had to pay our tasting fees and miss the entire experience.

I set the reset button for day number two and before heading out the door, I told our group that we were only going to three wineries that day. So I canceled two of our reservations and by the end of that day, we had had an amazing experience. We got in depth with the winemakers, the wineries, the tours, the vineyard tours and explorations. And we had a truly memorable day. So what?

specifically changed. Leveraging the tips that I'm about to share with you to explore wine travel are going to help you make for amazing trips without stress and most importantly without disappointment. So let's dive into the top five tips for making a wine travel amazing. Tip number one location, location, location. think beyond

the ordinary. we often plan trips to wine country we think about the hot spots such as Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Tuscany and you know these typically are top of mind but if that means they're top of mind for you they're likely top of mind for everyone else. But if this is your first time to do a wine focus trip or you've been to some of the big ones I just mentioned already

letting go of the perspective that these are the only places you can truly get a real wine travel experience, toss it out the window. So let's think beyond Napa, let's think beyond Bordeaux. There are tons of amazing lesser travel wine regions that are less crowded and are going to give you a much more intimate and unique experience. Fun fact,

All 50 states produce wine, as do many countries outside of the traditional France and Portugal and Italy and Germany. So think beyond the traditional and explore other wine regions. Having a goal and sticking to it, aligning your goal to a location

can help you make for a magical trip. So what is a goal? What's a wine goal?

Do you love white wine but planned a trip to a wine region where 90 % of the wine produced is big, bold, packed with a punch red wine? Those locations and those goals are not going to align. So identifying your travel goal before you even consider a location is key. And having a focus, what?

are you hoping to achieve on that wine travel trip? Do you want to find some fun new wines that you haven't tried before? Do you want more exposure, say to specific styles or specific varietals? Do you want to learn about a new wine region or are you really looking for balance between wine exploration and cultural experiences? What wines are you passionate about?

If you love, Riesling, research places that produce or are well known for Riesling, such as the Finger Lakes in New York or Washington State. Yes, Germany, Austria, the Alsace region of France. If you love Sangiovese, look beyond Tuscany? Texas produces some lovely Sangiovese. Or let's get into completely new varietals.

Greece. Now, pronouncing some can be difficult. Assyrtiko for example, or Slovenia or South Africa, or even in the United States, places like the upper Midwest and around Minnesota have magical wine regions that are definitely worth exploring.

Planning, planning, planning, planning makes perfect. Now let's dive into planning and talk about timing.

Are you one who loves snaking your way through heavy crowds at an amusement park to get to that next ride? Or instead, do you prefer less crowded spots where you can take in the scenery, go at your own pace and be a little bit more relaxed? Depending upon which of those you choose, popular wine regions can be just as crowded during peak season, especially during harvest as

Disney World on spring break or Paris during the summer. And it definitely does sound romantic and amazing to visit wineries during harvest because this is when all the magic is happening. The grapes are being picked. There's so much activity going on. But word of warning, this is also when wineries are at their busiest. Their focus number one,

is on harvest and making the wines you love. And if it's a smaller winery with small staff, the entire staff is focused on harvest and winemaking. And so if you plan a visit during that time, you're very likely going to get very minimal attention. You're definitely not going to get those personalized winery and vineyard tours because they need to focus on what they do best,

making wine. we have north of the equator our growing season is April to October so once you start getting into September and October that's harvest. South of the equator October through April's growing season so March and April are their busiest times. But personally I think winter is a fabulous time to go visit wineries and go to wine regions.

tourist traffic is a little slower. The vineyards are a different kind of beautiful when you see the grapevines without leaves. And you may just end up having that tasting room all to yourself. But definitely check in advance because often tasting rooms have limited winter hours. So you'll need to make reservations and align your travel accordingly.

But beyond just visiting wineries and having tastings at their tasting rooms, there's a romanticism around that. And I get it. Sipping that glass of wine, gazing over the vineyard. It's super alluring. But don't miss out on other local events and experiences because a very balanced trip can be the difference between

burnout and bliss. Often local AVA's and wine regions have associations that do multiple festivals and events during the year. These are fabulous things to plan around. You can go and taste local culture, get exposure to multiple wineries that you may not even have time to visit if you go just winery hopping and it's definitely the best way to get into the local food scene.

And don't eschew wine tours because many companies offer small group tours that allow you to kind of focus on the best of the best without having to do all the research yourself. Some even allow you to do winery tours on bicycles such as Windy Roads in Willamette Valley. research activities beyond wine.

because you might just need that little break in the afternoon or even for a full day. So the wine regions always have amazing other things and other activities such as hiking or museums so that you can learn about local history and get outside and explore.

Most wine regions have your traditional wine varieties, but what's even more fun is to find those local wines and local grapes that are specific to that region. On a recent trip to the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, we found a winery that had some really lovely wines from varietals like Seyval Blanc and Chambercin that grow really, really well there, but aren't

nearly as popular on a global stage. And the best executed plans are those that are executed well in advance. So let's talk about the tip for preparation. Once you pick the region you want to visit, accommodations are key. So you can determine one.

whether you can find a single hotel where you can ping out to all the different wine regions from there or whether you're going to need to schedule multiple hotels along your travel route. Some wineries even have their own on-site accommodations and how fun is that to wake up in the vineyards. But being realistic in your expectations.

It may sound fun just like the travel group I mentioned earlier to schedule five wineries in a day, but trust me, don't try. Planning your route is just as important as planning the wineries because some regions have 30 or more minutes in between.

destinations and if the map says it's going to be 30 minutes you can count on it actually being more. Many of these areas only have two lane roads you get stopped in traffic and you will not make your next destination. Consider booking a driver someone who's familiar with the area knows the back roads and how to work around that traffic but most importantly it's the safe thing to do.

if you don't have a designated driver, someone who's not doing the tastings. remember in tasting rooms spitting is 100 % acceptable and highly encouraged. But communicating well in advance, make sure you have reservations. Dropping in is never a safe bet when it comes to wine race. They have

certain amount of certain amount of tasting spaces available, so make your reservations and communicate well in advance. These are businesses just like a restaurant and reservations are so appreciated and mostly they can also be mandated. And when you're traveling, do you feel like you're going to pick up wine? We know you are.

So traveling with a wine suitcase or making sure you know someplace in the area you're traveling to where you can pick up a wine travel box, which is essentially has styrofoam inserts or formed composite paper that can safely get your bottles from your destination back on the plane and back home with you without any damage or breakage. find an amazing wine suitcase or

plan to pick something up at your location. At minimum, if you're just carrying a couple of bottles, seal them in bubble wrap or some kind of protection before you put them in your suitcase. It's better to have them protected than to ruin everything, including that bottle of wine and your clothes if that bottle breaks.

Finally, set your expectations in line with the winery's intentions. And here's what I mean by that. One, before you go set your budget for the tastings themselves. Most tastings are no longer free. They expect you to either pay for the tasting or they will comp your tasting if you purchase a specific amount of wine. So check with the winery advance and know what their policies are. Set a limit.

for how much you want to purchase from a monetary perspective because it is so easy to get caught up in the moment and overspend on wine.

and 100 % expect to be introduced to that winery's wine club. Most wineries do not have distribution. They are not in local stores. They are not in your local wine shop. They sell their wines direct to consumer. That means they sell them on premise at the winery or through their wine club. So understanding when you go to any winery,

they are going to present their wine club in addition to selling you wines during your tasting.

this is their business model. So be gracious, even if you're not interested in joining, be gracious because this is how they stay in business. You may change your mind, however, so take that order form with you because at the end of the day, you may remember back to your favorite bottle you had during that trip and sign up after the fact. And when you're focusing on smaller wineries,

Remember that you will have no access to those wines in the future unless you buy direct from them or join their wine club. So if you've done a really good job during each of your winery visits and you take notes on which wines are your favorites, you can join the wine club following up or maybe just place a purchase here or there. And my last tip is minding your manners.

It may sound great you find the most beautiful location and you or you and your group buy multiple bottles and kind of park yourself at that winery on the patio and pop the cork all day long. Please don't assume that the winery wants you to do this in lieu of rotating that table for multiple visitor groups during the day because remember that may be

their only exposure to new customers. So ask in advance, don't assume. And if you booking for a group,

Check to see if there are special tours available that introduce you to the winemaker that give you tours and walking through the vineyards and also through the winemaking facilities If you book these, especially with groups, these can give you the opportunity to talk directly to the winemaker and understand key elements behind the scenes versus just.

tasting the wines. But don't expect to do this when you get there. This is something that needs to be planned in advance. keep your groups to no more than six to eight people. Anything larger can be very, very difficult for the winery to manage.

And the etiquette of wine tastings and what to expect from your standard booking is this. They will have a standard time allotted for your tasting. So be conscious of whoever is helping you with your tasting, your guide, because they may have multiple tables that they're supporting at that given time.

you might not be the only table. And if you've booked that standard tasting, your timeframe is likely going to be 45 minutes to an hour so that the team can clear your table, be prepared, and host their next group. So being mindful of this and respectful of this allows them to keep turning their tables because this is their bread and butter. And if you are debating over which wines to purchase,

get up from the table and go to the checkout area and make your selections there again so that they can continue to turn that table. And if you don't have a reservation, as we talked about in the introduction, you may not be able to taste. But that doesn't prevent you from grabbing a glass at the bar and going outside and sipping on that wine with a view of the vineyards. So let's review.

top five tips. One, explore beyond your traditional hot spots. Two, have a travel goal and stick to it. Three, plan plan plan planning makes perfect. Book your reservations, don't over schedule, and make sure to pack the things that you might need to bring those precious bottles of wine back home with you. Four,

set your expectations on what that experience is going to look like as well as your budget not only for tastings but also for wines you purchase and five mind your manners and with these five tips you are bound to have a magical wine experience and i can't wait for you to put in the comments of this episode your favorite locations for wine travel and if you like this show don't

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But if you want to keep exploring everything wine with us, follow me on Instagram at Christy K R I S T I everyday sommelier And in the next episode, this is one you're not going to want to miss. We are going to be deep diving into wines for

new exploration. Whether you are new to wine or a family member or friend is new to wine we're going to introduce them to the best wines that they can start their journey with. So until then keep learning wine your way.