Napa Valley is a top tourist destination with delicious restaurants, beautiful scenery, and of course an abundance of great wine. If you are interested in planning a wine-tasting trip to Napa, here are 10 tips to improve your experience.
Make Reservations
2. Don’t Overload Your Schedule
3. Be Aware of Drive Times
Remember to pay attention to drive times when you are reserving tastings at wineries. The maps can make Napa look small, but the area is more spread out than it seems. To give you an idea, it takes about 40 minutes to get from Napa (the town) in the southern part of the valley, to Calistoga, at the northern end.
4. Create a Well-Rounded Itinerary
Unless you are going to a winery that offers food, it’s best to eat before a wine tasting. Drinking on an empty stomach leads to faster intoxication, sometimes even before you realize. You never want to be ‘that person’ at the wine tasting. On the same theme, don’t forget to drink water throughout the tasting to keep yourself hydrated.
6. Skip the Coffee
Napa has some great coffee shops and it’s tempting to grab a quick coffee on the way to your tasting. But think twice! Coffee dulls your palate and makes it difficult to taste anything. The same is true with toothpaste and very spicy foods.
7. Take a Break from Wine
After a few wine tastings, you may be ready for a break from wine. In that case, head to one of Napa’s great breweries or distilleries. There are quite a few different breweries across the valley, but some of the most famous include Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse, Fieldwork Brewing, and Napa Smith Brewery. If you’d prefer a distillery, Napa Valley Distillery has both a tasting room and cocktail bar open for visitors.
8. Plan a Relaxing Picnic
A great way to take advantage of Napa’s beautiful weather and scenery is to plan a picnic lunch with a nice bottle of wine. Many wineries offer areas for picnics with the purchase of a bottle or for a fee. Other wineries will even prepare the whole picnic for you, so all you have to do is show up. Just remember to call ahead or check the winery’s website, as not all wineries allow picnics on the property.
9. Bring a Jacket
When you’re planning your wine tasting outfit, remember to pack a light jacket or sweater. Winery cellars are kept relatively cold for the wine, and even in the summer Napa gets chilly at night. Also be sure to wear comfortable shoes; some wine tastings involve long periods of standing, walking, and sometimes even vineyard tours!
10. Be Careful Driving
The last tip is the least fun, but maybe the most important. If you are driving, be very conscious of how much you are drinking. When you’ve had multiple tastings it can be difficult to know how many glasses you’ve actually consumed, and the amount can sneak up on you. Napa is very strict when it comes to drunk driving; they often set up stops to test cars randomly. There are plenty of driving services available to hire for the day or afternoon, as well as taxis and Uber. While they can seem a bit pricey, they are much cheaper than an accident or a run in with the police.
Now you are ready to start planning your dream vacation in Napa Valley! For more information on Napa be sure to check out our other articles!