If you’re currently in the process of planning a vacation, consider a vineyard as your destination. Though you might be under the assumption that vineyards only offer wine tasting, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Tasting delicious wine is only one aspect of all that a vineyard has to offer. A vineyard makes for a trendy and fun place to vacation with your spouse, friends, or family. They offer a wide range of activities to experience, like guided tours of the vines, learning about grape harvesting, or even creating your own wine.
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Where to Find the Right Vineyard to Visit?
First, you’ve got to decide which vineyard you want to visit. Though many people automatically think “California” or “Napa Valley,” those places can be overcrowded, which means you won’t get as personalized of an experience. For a different location that offers some seclusion, visit Mountain Brook Vineyards in North Carolina. With a passion for excellence in all that they do, Mountain Brook offers a beautiful getaway right at the base of the Tryon Mountains. You will love their vineyards and their premium, delicious wines. Mountain Brook offers a fun and scenic way to spend your vacation drinking high-end wine and taking in the gorgeous views.
When is the Best Time to Go?
Though most people might say that spring, summer, or fall is the best time to visit a winery, winter can be the perfect time to go. While you may not get the warm temperatures that summer provides, the wintry landscapes and blankets of snow viewed while curled up next to a fire offer a harsh but undeniably beautiful visage. Besides, trying new experiences and broadening your horizons helps keep the winter blues from creeping in when you least suspect it.
Another great benefit of visiting in the winter is trying all of the delicious seasonal wines and rare blends only available during the colder months. Winter is red wine season, which perfectly pairs the hearty comfort food most people love to eat when it’s bitter cold outside. Experiencing a vineyard in the winter also gives you a chance to stock up on your favorite vintage and replace all the wine consumed from your stores over Christmas and new year’s.
Exciting Things to Do at a Vineyard
There are many fun things to do and new experiences to try when visiting a vineyard. Whether you are a newbie or a wine connoisseur, wineries have something for just about everyone. Though everybody thinks of wine tasting as the most obvious activity to take part in when visiting a vineyard, they offer so much more to try.
Celebrate a Wedding or Birthday
Vineyards are an excellent place to go on vacation, but they’re also perfect for celebrating a special event, like a wedding, birthday, or anniversary. You can typically rent out the whole winery so you can enjoy celebrating in total seclusion. A vineyard makes a perfect place to create lifelong memories during your special events.
Explore the Vineyard
Visiting the actual vineyards where the grapes are grown is a fun and eye-opening experience. Take in all the sights, smell all the fragrant and aromatic grapes, and enjoy a picnic lunch or stroll through the vines.
Explore the Winery
The science of winemaking is a fascinating subject. Most vineyards have guided tours of their winery, where you can see where the wine is made, learn about the creation process, and see where it’s bottled. Explore the hoppers, the tanks, the cava, the barrel room, and finally, the tasting room, where you can sip to your heart’s content.
Stay the Night
Most vineyards offer hospitality services, too, so you can stay the night for an immersive experience. When you get up, enjoy breakfast and take a driving tour of the surrounding wine country, or you can enjoy brunch amongst the grapevines. If it’s winter, you can sit by the fire and sip wine, or even meet new people and make new friends.
Taste the Wine
Though you might think wine tasting is relatively simple, it’s actually quite a complex science. Luckily, there will be a sommelier, a wine expert, who will help you discover all the ins and outs of wine tasting, how to select the right glass, and how to savor and appreciate each unique wine properly.
Create Your Own Exclusive Wine
If you’ve ever wanted to create your own wine, visiting a vineyard could offer you the opportunity. You can spend the day playing with different aromas and learning how to make wine. Creating your own wine is a memorable experience and a chance to explore your senses.
Learn About the Grape Harvest
If you’re interested in the art of the grape harvest, most vineyards have guided tours and information about the grapes they grow and how to harvest them. It’s a great chance to stomp some grapes, which is an unforgettable experience.
Attend Workshops
A fun new way to learn about pairing wine with food like an expert is by taking a workshop. You can learn about which food groups work best with whites and reds, sensory evaluation, and all the other aspects of how to pair wine with food.
Vineyard and Winery Etiquette
Before you head to a vineyard, there are a few different guidelines to keep in mind. For starters, as with any situation where you’re consuming alcohol, it’s important to enjoy it responsibly. It’s all too easy to accept every glass offered to you and get caught up in the fun and adventure of it all, but it’s not okay to get too drunk. If you think you’ve had too much, stop drinking so you can continue to enjoy the festivities without getting sick or inconveniencing the vineyard staff. You don’t have to spit every sip of wine, but it’s generally a good idea to spit at least half of what you’re offered.
Another unspoken rule at a winery is not to wear any perfume or cologne at all. Properly experiencing the wines involves intricate flavors and aromas. If you’re wearing heavy cologne or perfume, it can alter the wine’s taste and scent. You should also make sure you leave enough time to experience all the activities the vineyard has to offer. This way, you’re getting the entire experience rather than just some of it.
Learn the Art of Wine on Your Next Vacation
When it comes time to pick your next vacation spot, consider choosing a vineyard for an unforgettable experience in learning the art of wine. You can stay in a charming bed and breakfast, taste delicious, aromatic wines, learn about grapes, even create your own wine. There’s no doubt about it; visiting a vineyard and winery makes for a fun and exciting vacation and a chance to learn new things and make new friends. Head to a vineyard today to broaden your horizons, learn all about wine, and create lifelong memories.
