I have always loved to travel. When I was growing up, my parents took us to a new location during every summer and winter break. My siblings and I had a blast visiting new cities and states and my parents always made sure we learned a lot about the local cultures. I especially loved trying new local foods, since every city had their local specialties. My parents were always impressed at my willingness to try new foods at my young age. I loved traveling so much that I decided to become a traveling nurse, and I now get paid to travel around the country! I know there are many people out there new to traveling who need tips on choosing destinations, preparing for trips, and packing well. I plan to share tips on these travel topics and much more on my new travel blog!
4 Tips For Your First Wine Tour
There's no better way to spend a pleasant summer day than on a wine tour. Not only does a wine tour allow you to sample a variety of delicious options, but it exposes you to gorgeous scenery. You also get to learn more about the vineyard's winemaking process. Here are a few tips to follow to ensure you have a fantastic time on your first wine tour.
1. Have a Big Breakfast the Morning of Your Tasting
On the morning of your wine tasting, have a big breakfast that includes some protein and carbohydrates. When you sample wine on an empty stomach, this lowers your alcohol threshold.
Even if you plan on spitting out all of the wine that you taste, it's possible that you might accidentally drink a sip or two. It's not uncommon to sample 20 or more wines in a short period of time when you're on a wine tour. Occasional sips can quickly add up and increase your blood alcohol concentration. If you're drunk, you won't be able to properly taste the wine.
2. Avoid Using Any Scented Personal Products
Scented products are a no-no on the day of the wine tour. To fully experience a wine, you need to be able to engage all your senses, including your sense of smell. If you wear perfume or use scented body wash, these fragrances will overpower the scent of the wine.
3. Bring a Bottle of Water with You
During your tour, you don't want to depend on wine as your primary source of hydration. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and many wine tours include a decent amount of walking. Add in a lot of sunlight, and it's very easy to become dehydrated on your wine tour.
When you're dehydrated, this decreases your tolerance to alcohol. Many of the symptoms of dehydration, like dizziness, irritability, and fatigue, will also interfere with your ability to fully enjoy the wine tour. Bring a large bottle of water with you and take generous sips throughout your wine tour.
4. Don't Be Afraid to Try New Wines
When you're on a wine tour, it's important to be open to trying new wines. After all, one of the reasons many people go on wine tours is to discover new wines.
Maybe you always drink white wine; make sure to sample red wine due during your tasting. Don't forgo a wine simply because it has hints of an element you've found offensive to your taste buds in the past (like a fruity taste or buttery flavor). Also, discovering what wines you don't like prevents you from wasting money on an entire bottle the next time you go wine shopping.