Trip to Wine Country

If you are a wine enthusiast, a trip to San Francisco is not complete without a day trip to wine country. There are many vineyards that are a short drive from the city. You may want to consider a package tour so that you taste all the wine you want and not have to worry about driving back to your hotel.

A trip to wine country is also a great way to learn about wine. If your experience with wine has not been a pleasant one, you may find that you do have a palate for the excellent wines you can taste in California's Sonoma Valley and Napa regions. The wines in these regions are quality wines and are specially selected to showcase the best the vineyards have to offer.

When you plan your trip to wine country, you need to decide if you are going to take a train or bus tour. If you drive alone, be sure you have a destination in mind. You may want to call ahead to see if the vineyard or vineyards you want to visit require reservations. You may also want to stay overnight in the area so that you are not drinking and driving. If you are traveling with friends or family, you can select a designated driver.

There are many different tours available to the wine country including bus tours and smaller SUV tours. The SUV tours accommodate only a small group whereas the bus can be filled to capacity. This makes the SUV tours a bit more expensive but you also get more personal attention. Another advantage is that on an SUV tour, you may be able to visit smaller wineries which cannot accommodate huge groups. SUV tours, especially to small wineries, have to be booked in advance.

Tips for your wine tasting adventure:

1. Do not wear perfume, cologne, aftershave, or other lotions. The scents will compete with the wine for both fragrance and taste. You want the wine to make its own statement.
2. Hold your wine glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine.
3. Eat something bland such as saltine crackers or French bread between wines to cleanse your palate.

A tour to wine country does not mean you have to taste the wine to learn about it. These tours are educational and you will learn:

• about the various wines,
• the regions,
• the differences between the wines,
• what makes the wine of different vineyards unique and special, and
• suggestions on how to pair and service the wines from the vineyards or the ones you taste.

You will also learn how to properly store wine to maintain the integrity and flavor of the wines you purchase.

Because there are educational benefits, age does not matter on these tours. However, only guests 21 years or older can taste the wines. Have a great day of fun, food, and wine.

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