Uncorked Ventures Blog

August 8, 2015 | Guest Writers

How to Plan an International Wine Excursion

Editor's Note: Thanks to Jenna for providing our first guest post here at Uncorked Ventures. If you're interested in writing for us, please have a look at our guest posting guidelines.

Thanks to the conveniences of the Internet, global supply chains, and interconnected economies, anyone can order a bottle of wine from anywhere in the world and have it in their hands in a matter of days.

However, there’s nothing quite like uncorking a bottle in its native country. More specifically, there’s nothing quite like tasting wine on the very estate from which it was harvested.

Six Tips for Planning Your Trip

If you’ve never considered planning an international wine tasting excursion, now may be the time to give it some serious thought. Don’t worry: we’ve collected some tips and tricks to guide you through the process of planning your trip.

1. Choose a Location Whether you're a fan of Cabernet Francs from France’s right bank, or your fancy Syrahs from Australia’s Hunter Valley region, there’s a destination waiting for you. The hard part is selecting a particular area and not spreading yourself too thin. The goal of your trip should be to see, taste, and experience as much as possible – leisurely. Planning for too many stops along the way can make you feel rushed and stressed. Hone in on a single area, and never plan on visiting more than three or four wineries in a single day.

2. Read Plenty of Reviews Review websites are your best friends. Spend some time reading both about positive and negative experiences at each winery. This’ll give you an idea of the good and the bad. You’ll also learn some insider tips about what’s worth trying, what you should avoid, and how much certain things cost.

3. Let Restaurants Direct You Many people have trouble figuring out a logical itinerary or schedule of wineries. It’s typically challenging because people don’t have an end goal. One of the best ways to direct your travels naturally is to design daily itineraries around lunch and dinner. Find out where you want to eat, and then stop at locations along the way. Once you have a start and a finish, everything else will fall into place.

4. Hire a Local Driver This should go without saying, but make sure that you hire a driver if you plan on visiting multiple wineries in a day. Not only will a driver keep you safe, but they also allow you to soak in the views and forget about directions. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

5. Consider Making Reservations You won’t need to make a reservation everywhere you go, but don’t assume that every winery allows you simply to walk in and taste. Some of the more popular ones may actually limit the number of people who visit each day by requiring an advanced reservation. Keep a look out for this requirement when reading through reviews.

6. Learn About the Region You’ll get a lot more out of your trip if you spend time learning about the region you’re visiting. Read up on the history, learn some interesting facts, brush up on your vocabulary, and prepare questions. Employees at wineries love talking about what they do. Asking questions about why they grow certain grapes, how weather affects the harvest, and what’s drinking really well will only improve your experience. Start Planning Today While there’s plenty to see on this side of the world, don’t eliminate the possibility of taking an international wine tour. In taking one of these excursions, you can open yourself up to new tastes, cultures, and experiences. Using these six tips, you can make sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible. And, always remember: the goal is to see, taste, and experience as much as possible in a leisurely fashion (with an emphasis on “leisurely”)!

Jenna Cyrprus Head Shot Jenna is a freelance writer from Renton, WA who is particularly interested in travel, nature, and parenting. Follow her on Twitter.