2006-09-29 07:27:18 · 11 answers · asked by Leilani Williams 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
I live about 40 minutes from Napa, and my wife and I go wine tasting to Napa or Sonoma about once a month or so. Everyone tells you to go to Napa during the crush (September/October), because that is when the leaves are most green and activity is occuring. However, this is also when wineries are most busy and millions of tourists flock in. Truthfully these areas (especially Napa) are beautiful year round, each different season has it's own beauty. I like it best in early spring, late winter when there is much less people. Or after Thanksgiving but before Christmas. As far as tasting on any particular day or time, weekdays are best but not possible for many. Sundays are a little bit better then Saturdays, but many smaller wineries are not open.
With regards to time of day: start early, don't worry about looking like an alchoholic (as previous poster stated), just pace yourself and use the dump bucket when you don't like something (wineries expect this). Most wineries open up at 10:00AM, and there will be virtually nobody in the tasting rooms until 12:00, so get an early start. And check out the wineries websites, because many of them have private tours and tastings for a reasonable fee (very reasonable in Sonoma). Also stay off the main highways if you can, and don't be tasting after 4:00pm if you can avoid it. Tasting rooms (especially in Napa) will be full of drunken idiots who can't find the door, and winery staff who are generally sick and tired of dealing with the public.
These guidlines work well for the coastal wineries of California and Oregon as well. French Wineries are busy all the time, but non-touristy seasons are best. Also for France see the lesser known wine producing regions (such as Beaujolais), and if you do Bordeaux or even most of Champagne, make your reservations WAY in advance.
2006-09-29 07:45:39 · answer #1 · answered by Fulcrum777 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometime after noon so you don't look like an alcoholic. But seriously, if you'd like to learn a lot about the wine, go on a weekday when most people are at work. Then the person in the tasting room will have plenty of time to talk to you about what you are drinking and how they make it. As for the time of year, the spring yeilds the best scenery, but any time is nice, and wines are made year round, so it's not like you are going to taste the newest wine. Since they don't serve wine "fresh" there is no wine season.
2006-09-29 14:33:16 · answer #2 · answered by weebat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband and I love to go in the off season. The off season in Michigan is November through May. All of the vineyards were still open and we got amazing attention because they were not very busy.
The wine experts had more time to spend with us, let us try a few extra types (every vineyard has a limit). We didn't go home with any wines we were unsure of and even found a very favourite.
2006-09-29 14:32:07 · answer #3 · answered by Rackjack 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you call the winery and ask if they allow visitors during the harvest and crushing period. To me, to be at the winery when everything is happening in preparation to produce the wine would be more exciting than trying to figure out what day to go sample wines. Imagine being able to taste some of the grapes still on the vine before they become wine. It is a unique experience because the flavors are so different.
2006-09-30 10:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by Groucho 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wednesday at the Guasti Winery in Ontario,California!!!everything to do with wine and viticulture is here for you!!!it's a great setting with lots of history behind it!!the interior of the tasting room is exquisite....LOTS OF TYPES OF WINES AND APPELLATIONS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE.lots of dark woods and tapestries,stemware and wine accoutremont....a truLY helpful,knowledgeable and friendly staff!!!sculpture and other galleries all around a vast complex!!!
2006-09-29 14:41:50 · answer #5 · answered by eldoradoreefgold 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think sundays are great. Depending where you're from and what place you go to. Some places aren't open sundays. But when I go to Napa, I love going on sundays. We go test some wine, have some lunch, it's great. It's a perfect way to spend a sunday.
2006-09-29 14:29:25 · answer #6 · answered by dreamingangelu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anytime they're open! Here in Napa most open up around 9-10 a.m. I liked going on "off" days, there's not huge crowds. And the person pouring gets to chat with you more. You get more personal service since the weekends around here get nutty with tourists.
2006-09-29 14:36:03 · answer #7 · answered by chefgrille 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2014-08-08 03:23:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
at any time
2006-09-29 14:28:57 · answer #9 · answered by Stan the man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when its closed so u can drink it all
2006-09-29 15:29:22 · answer #10 · answered by stewart_ryn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋