Now that the weather has warmed up, wine enthusiasts can search out local wineries to visit as well as travel to wine regions. When visiting a winery or vineyard tasting room, do not expect a bar scene. There is a decorum and etiquette to follow. We wrote an article about tasting room etiquette in 2007. During the past eight years, the article has been one of the most widely read articles on the Wine Trail Traveler site. The popularity of that article led us to write a second book.

Visiting tasting rooms can become an exciting experience for wine enthusiasts.

During the spring and summer of 2013, we wrote A Wine Tourist’s Guide: Visiting Tasting Rooms. We expanded on our original article to write a chapter. The book also has chapters about the experience of visiting tasting rooms, wine tasting, common international grapes, wine myths and misconceptions and tips for planning a visit to a wine region. Our book is on sale at our bookstore and at amazon.com.

If you never visited a tasting room and like wine, read our etiquette article. If you are interested in wine tourism, read our book. With the knowledge gained from both, you should feel comfortable visiting tasting rooms around the world. Become a wine tourist by visiting winery tasting rooms within a day trip from your home. Then expand to weekend get-aways. If you really enjoy the activity, then start visiting wine regions for one to two weeks. The summer is one of the best times to visit tasting rooms since many are open. There may also be crowds on weekends but weekdays are usually less crowded. Enjoy the wine you discover in your wine journey.

Cheers,
Terry