Visiting a winery to see how this magical product is produced can be done at any time of the year, but I have found that it is really best done shortly after the year-end holidays.
Immediately after the harvest in the Northern Hemisphere, around Halloween and Thanksgiving, the harvest is wrapping up and wineries are in a sanitation mode. A huge amount of work is being done that entails a lot of hot water, which means hoses and wet floors.
After Thanksgiving, much of the work has been completed, and winery personnel can be a little less stressed.
The best way to see a winery is to plan your trip carefully to not only maximize the enjoyment of the wine, but to avoid pitfalls associated with this activity. Here are a few suggestions to make it more enjoyable:
Identify which wineries you'd like to see and determine the distances between them. If you’re seeing more than one winery before or after lunch, make sure there’s adequate time to get from one to the other. For example, it’s possible to visit Gloria Ferrer and Trentadue on the same day; both are located in Sonoma County. But they are about an hour apart, even without traffic.
Make tasting room reservations in advance. Some wineries do not require it, but inquiring ahead of time tells the winery about when you will arrive and how many are in your party. Walk-ins without reservations may be frowned on.
If you are planning to stay overnight, make hotel or B&B reservations as early as possible. Some wine regions have limited lodging, which can fill up without warning.
Try to make visits on midweek days when traffic is lighter and restaurants are not overwhelmed.
Begin each tour day with a hearty breakfast. It helps sobriety to have sips of alcoholic beverages on a full stomach.
Plan to visit no more than four wineries in a day, two each before and after lunch. More than that really is impractical; it’s hard to understand much about the wines by rushing the process.
When making a winery reservation, ask if the winery is planning any special events for the time you’re going to be in the area. Some wineries may fail to mention events when you are in touch with them.
Ask about tasting room fees well in advance. Some wineries now charge a lot. I have heard of visitors facing charges so high they left before doing any tasting. Also, ask if tasting room fees are refundable if you purchase a bottle of wine.
Make lunch reservations as early as you can. If that doesn’t pan out, ask the wineries you visit if they have picnic tables and sell light foods. Or plan ahead and bring the picnic with you.
If the area you are planning to visit is remote, remember that such areas may have limited gas stations or charging stations.
Drivers should always use the spit container.
Bring a notebook and try to take notes on the wines you are interested in. Some wines have special designations that are hard to remember.
Always take a business card so you can contact the winery later to find out about its wine club programs.
