Finding the right must-have items for a day of visiting wineries can be challenging! You need your pack to be durable but also flexible. You want something light but also roomy. Perfect pockets and compartments would be ideal. And ensure there’s room to bring home the number one napa valley cabernet sauvignon.
Read to learn the ultimate packing list for winery tours so that you can avoid problems, enjoy your vacation more fully, and get the most out of your venture.
Sunscreen and Lip Balm
The sun causes wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and age spots if you don’t put on sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Lip balm is essential because windy weather and hot temperatures can dry lips quickly. Ensure that when you buy a lip balm, it has an SPF rating of 15; it helps prevent sun damage to your lips and keeps them moisturized when outside in the heat.
Hat and Sunglasses
While sunscreen is essential, you can still get sunburned even with the best sunscreen. Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV and also help reduce squinting, which may cause wrinkles around your eyes over time. A hat protects your head and face, which is especially important if you have sensitive skin that burns easily or if there’s an area of your face that tends to burn more frequently, such as the tip of the nose or ears.
Paper Map
A paper map helps plan your route and keep track of where you have been in case of an emergency. There’s no guarantee that you’ll have access to the internet or cell service when you’re in the middle of nowhere; even if you do, it can be unreliable. Your phone might die, malfunction in the heat, or get lost and need to find your way back to civilization again.
So don’t rely on technology for your day of wine tasting!
Cash for Wine Purchase
Some wineries don’t take debit cards or checks, so you’ll want to be sure you have enough cash in your wallet, at least $40. That’s because most wineries have a tasting fee and a corkage fee of $10-$20.
A Warm Layer, Even In the Summer
No matter the time of the year, bringing a layer of warmth is wise. A long-sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, or light jacket will keep you comfortable as temperatures dip into the 50s at night and fall below 40 degrees.
Water and Snacks
Snacks help keep energy levels up. You can also have them on hand to share with your group. Also, drink lots of water for body hydration through tastings.
Charged Camera
You’ll want to document your experience. So bring along a charged camera! And maybe even consider bringing along extra batteries.
Ensure the vehicle Has Gas
If you will drive a long distance to visit the wineries, ensure you have enough gas. If you won’t be able to fill up before leaving home, ask the staff at the winery if they know of any stations where you can get fuel.
Comfortable Shoes
You’ll be standing for hours, so you’ll want to wear something that supports your feet and ankles and feels good after a long walk. If you don’t have shoes like these in your closet already, it might be time to invest in some new ones.
Tissue and Wipes
Wine tasting can get messy—even if you’re sampling from a cup. Bring some wipes if you don’t want your hands covered in red wine stains!
You might not think about this because it’s so basic, but tissues are essential for wine tasting. You’ll use them for wiping your mouth after taking a sip of wine (and trying not to spit it out), dabbing your brows when they become sweaty from all that sipping, and wiping up spills that happen as you’re sampling different wines (and trying not to spill them).
While Visiting a Winery, How Is the Schedule?
The schedule at the winery is flexible. There are no set times for anything to happen; instead, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do and when.
You’ll start with a tour of the facility and learn how to make wine. After that, it’s up to you whether or not you want to stay at the winery or explore other parts of the area. Suppose you stay at the winery; you can taste types of wine, have lunch in their restaurant, or take a stroll around their gardens.
The winery’s tasting room is open daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Most wineries have anywhere from 10-100 different varieties of wine available for tasting.
How Do You Plan to Visit the Wineries
As a wine lover, you want to taste the wines and learn how to make them. How do you plan to visit a winery:
- Look at each winery’s maps and websites that interest you. It will help you narrow your choices so that you can start visiting these places as you arrive.
- Make a list of all the wineries you want to visit and their hours of operation. It will help you make sure that you don’t miss any of the good ones!
- Ensure you have made reservations at one or two of your favorite wineries before traveling there so that they can accommodate you when you arrive.
- Once onsite, don’t forget about safety! Ensure that someone knows where your group is at all times—especially if they’re planning on drinking alcohol—and if possible, have someone drive who isn’t drinking at all (or at least keep them hydrated).
- Ensure you have a designated driver ahead of time (this is especially important if you plan on drinking).
If you’re planning a winery visit for the first time, these items are musts for maximizing your experience. They might not be paramount to your visit, but they will help you make it enjoyable. Before you go wine tasting, make sure that you do a little research so that you are prepared for the day.
HussaiN is a full-time professional blogger from India. He is passionate about content writing, tech enthusiasts, and computer technologies. Apart from content writing on the internet, he likes reading various tech magazines and several other blogs on the internet. Email ID: [email protected]