Ready to venture out and enjoy wine tasting again? Please keep reading.
They’re Open
By the end of May, a few wineries had reopened their doors for tasters. Others needed more time to retool their tasting venues to accommodate social distancing. During the month of June, winery after winery reopened their doors with renewed enthusiasm. Although pandemic precautions are in place, I was happy to find wine tasting still offers what wine lovers are seeking—experiences that delight the senses.
Wine Country is just as beautiful as it was the last time I ventured out. Picturesque backroads led us to our destinations, with miles of vineyard-lined highways and byways providing a visual feast.
Reservations Required
At each stop, winery owners and staff greeted us warmly, thrilled that we came to visit. But, the big difference is they knew we were coming. Wineries are requiring all visitors make reservations at each winery they plan to visit. Scheduling is key to ensure proper social distancing and maintain county health protocols.
Many of these wineries are small. With the new guidelines, they must limit how many people they can see at any one time, and any given day. Don’t miss out by not planning ahead. Lucky for you, the Wine Road website now has a tool to help you out.
Please keep in mind, not all the wineries along the Wine Road have reopened. Since reservations are required, you’ll know who’s open and who’s not before you begin your wine tasting adventure.
Wine Tasting At Its Finest
A picture is worth a thousand words. So, rather than tell you about my wine tasting experiences, here are photos from just a few wineries along the Wine Road.
Photographer: Kailani Andrade
Balletto Vineyards also offers pairings to tasters.
What’s Different?
Wineries are offering seated tasting to ensure proper social distancing. Rather than be given a list of available wines and asked to select four or five you’d like to try, you’ll be given flight options. Flights give you a chance to tailor your wine tasting experience to your preferences.
We’ve all adjusted to our new bandit look, with face coverings of all colors and designs. Wineries require you to wear your face coverings when you arrive and depart, and whenever you step away from your table. You’ll find winery staff wearing face coverings as well. If you are unsure of the protocol, please ask.
Photographer: Kailani Andrade
There is also plenty of opportunity to use hand sanitizer. If you don’t carry it with you, no worries, you’ll find it available at every tasting room you visit.
Read “We’re Safely Re-Opening” on the Wine Road’s website for complete details.
Less Paper, Less Contact
Pedroncelli Winery took this opportunity to go paperless and decrease their environmental footprint. No more paper wine lists, which the health code now mandates are one-use only. Rather, Pedroncelli’s wine flights are online. If you didn’t bring your smart phone along, the winery staff will provide you with one of the winery’s tablets. They offer eight flights including a “Create you own!” flight.
Pedroncelli’s paperless system also lets you sign up for their wine club or view all the wines available for purchase. But if you’re not quite ready to leap into the paperless realm, just let them know.
Staying Over?
In the past week, lodgings are reopening. This means if you wish to travel to the Wine Road, but don’t want to make it a day trip, you have the option to stay overnight. Check out the Wine Road’s Lodging page for a list of member lodgings. Be sure to check your preferred lodging’s website for details.
Happy to Be Back
Between the visual feast and the amazing wines, my senses were satiated after the long hiatus from traveling along the Wine Road. If you are ready to venture out, your next wine tasting adventure awaits you.
Happy Sipping!
@theWineRoad #alongtheWineRoad #winetastingagain #happysipping
Cover photo: View from Robert Young Estate Winery’s Scion House.
