What to Know Before Visiting a Napa Winery

If you are a wine lover, whether a beginner or experienced, you should visit wineries to learn more about the drink. Napa Valley is one of the popular winemaking regions in the world. Many wineries can be found in such a small area which makes it easier to get around and explore them all. 

Napa wineries are proud to show their products and have people taste them. There is a different feel when drinking wine at the place where it was crafted. Winery staff also love to entertain the guests and will gladly answer any questions they might have. 

But before you actually go to a Napa winery, there are some things that you should know and do. 

 

• Read about the Napa wineries. Do you have a wine preference in mind? If you do, look up the wineries in Napa which produces that specific wine. If you don’t, you should still read about wineries as much as you can so you will know what wines they can offer. You might want to go small wineries first especially if you want your tour to be shared with only a few people. The next thing you have to do is to know what time they operate and how much the tours and tastings cost. This will help you plan and budget accordingly.

• Limit winery visits to 1 to 3 in a day. You should not fill your day’s schedule by winery tours alone. Limit them to a few so that you can optimize your visits and enjoy the full experience. Add other attractions to your itinerary so that it would not be just wine all day. 

• Know the weather during your visit. You do not want to be underdressed or overdressed when you come to Napa. The weather changes from morning to afternoon so check weather forecasts to help you plan your attire. Also, wear comfortable shoes when touring a vineyard.

• Consider the time of the year of your visit. Summer and fall are peak seasons of wineries so it means that a lot of foot traffic is present. When you choose to visit during these times, opt to have the earliest tour of the day to avoid too much people. Also, book months before you plan on visiting to avoid fully-booked accommodations and tours.

• Hire a designated driver. Having your own professional driver during your stay in Napa will lessen your problems. You will get around the valley easier and you won’t have to worry about driving after you have had several glasses of wine. 

• Prepare to ask questions. The aim of winery tours is to educate guests about the winemaking processes and the actual wine itself. Do not be shy in asking questions as the winery staff can answer them. When you ask questions, the winery staff will be happy that someone is very interested with their wines. 

• Buying wine is encouraged but not required. You might probably end up buying a bottle or two especially if you like the wine but you do not have to buy one after every tour. 

• Bring a cooler. In case you do end up buying a bottle of wine, you need to have a cooler in your car to store it as you travel back home to avoid it from being “cooked” by the sun and rolling in the car.

 

Now that you know what to do, you are now ready to prepare for your Napa winery tour! 

If you still don’t have an idea on where to go, Fantesca Estate and Winery is a good choice. You will get to see not only a 10-acre vineyard but also the olive trees and beehives that produces high-quality olive oils and honey, respectively. You can also enjoy the majestic view of Spring Mountain and the entire estate vineyard on a private deck. Visiting Fantesca is going to be worth it so request an appointment now by clicking on this link.