Will be going to the San Franciso Bay area in late October on business. Would like to take a couple of days off before or after to tour nearby wine regions.
I think the experience will be enhanced if I don't have to worry about driving after drinking, so I am looking for ways to accomplish this.
We may be able to put together a group, so I am interested both in individual and group options. Anticipate some may want to go one day, others two or theree.
Advise please. Thanks.
You can taste the wine without swallowing, it's OK to keep a spit cup, discretely spitting into it and then and pour it into the pour bucket when you're done.
You can also get a limo. It's much more expensive than a spit cup.
Dana
Also make sure not to drink the full amount they pour. Use the pour bucket! Lots of people don't!
Dimitri
There are tours of all kinds targeted directly at individuals with your circumstances and concerns. Try doing a search for the specific region you're considering in Google or another search engine.
I had the card from a guy that met at a tasting recently but for the life of me I can't put my hands on it at the moment. Sorry. He had a variety of vans and coaches for taking smaller groups cost effectively. He tried to tailor the wineries to the styles of wines your group preferred. I think that's important. One would hope the tour guide is more concerned about finding wines to suit you than taking you to wineries he/she's got deals with.
I'll keep looking for that card.
Ed
Although it has been a number of years since I did it, I arranged through a travel agent before I left for a tour. This was a van tour with about 8 total people and a driver and each of us were picked up at our hotels in San Francisco. I was under the impression that the concierge at the better hotels can probably arrange something similar. The driver spoke 3 or 4 languages, although we only had one European on the trip and he spoke perfect English. On the way to Sonoma, the driver stopped at a roadside stand and purchased fresh fruit and vegetables and then stopped in the town of Sonoma for meat and other deli. During one stop, at Chateau St. Jean, she prepared lunch while we sampled. There were no specific stops set up in advance except for Domaine Chandon (which required a reservation for a group) and she inquired if anyone had any specific winery they wanted to visit. Since no one suggested one, she picked different size ones with a great variety.
While no one had too much to drink, it was nice to know that we had a driver who was drinking nothing but water and took care of lunch.
You might want to check with a travel agent or call the hotel where you are staying and see if they can make the arrangements in advance. Obviously, you are going to pay for each day you go out and the cost is significantly higher than just doing it yourself. Perhaps if there are people in the group that are going to go each day, you could set up a designated driver system.
Marc
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