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Showing posts with label california wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label california wine. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Getting Married in Wine Country: Important Factors to Take Into Consideration

Getting Married in Wine Country:  Important Factors to Take Into Consideration
Have you recently decided that you would like to get married in California wine country?  If you have, you are not alone.  California’s wine country is not only a popular vacation destination, but it is also a popular wedding destination!
Whether you are a local resident who is just taken in by the beauty of wine country or if you live clear across the country and you want to plan a destination wedding, you will have a number of important decisions to make.  These decisions, a few of which are outlined below, should not be made on impulse.  Even last minute wine country weddings should require some planning and preparation.  After all, you do want your special day to be just as you imagined it in your dreams, right?
One decision that you will have to make, when planning a wedding in California wine country, concerns your venue.  Where do you want to get married?  Where do you want to hold your wedding reception?  For many, the perfect location is a winery or a vineyard.  Many have spaces, such as private outdoor patio areas or indoor banquet style rooms that are perfect for weddings, as well as other private events.  You can easily learn more about these wineries and vineyards by using the internet.  Many have online websites, which should outline whether or not they have spaces on their property available for rent.
Another important decision that you will have to ask yourself is if you would like to have your wedding reception and ceremony in the same place.  If your religious faith calls for a church, you will find a number of churches in the area for you to choose from.  With that said, if you are more flexible with your options, you may find the best success when having your wedding reception and ceremony at the same place.  While you will find some variations, there are many wineries in California wine country who have beautiful, private spaces set up, often outdoors, that are perfect for a wedding ceremony.  This is in conjunction with an outdoor patio area or banquet room that is available for rent for a wedding reception.
How much you have to spend or how much you want to spend on a California wine country wedding is another important decision that you will need to make.  If you are planning a destination wedding, it is important to take your travel costs, like your airline reservations, into consideration.  With that in mind, remember that you can also save money on travel costs by having your wedding ceremony, wedding reception, as well as honeymoon all in wine country.  As an extra way to save money, be sure to look for moneysaving vacation packages.
Nearby accommodations should also be examined, when looking to plan a wine country wedding.  Not only will you want to make arrangements for yourself and your new spouse, but for your guests as well.  Even if you are not paying for your guests to stay in the area, be sure that accommodations are available for your wedding date.  You may also want to look for hotels and resorts that have wedding packages available for sale.  Many of these packages not only provide you with affordable rates, but they may also include an onsite wedding reception and ceremony.
The other common aspects of planning a wedding should also be examined.  For example, will you be able to find a local wedding photographer, DJ, or catering company?  If you can, book your wedding date well in advance, especially if you will be getting married in late spring or summer.  Also, be sure to keep vacation packages in mind.  Local hotels, resorts, and wineries may have wedding packages available where most of your needs, like food, music, and wedding pictures, are included in the overall cost of your wedding.
The above mentioned decisions are just a few of the many that you will have to make, when looking to plan a wine country wedding. By taking the factors highlighted above into consideration, you should be able to have the wedding of your dreams in wine country, without having to spend too much money doing so.

Friday, February 25, 2011

How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to California Wine Country

How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to California Wine Country
Are you interested in visiting California wine country?  If you are, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed, in terms of what you should see and do.  With over four hundred wineries and vineyards in the area, as well as an unlimited number of fun activities, perfect for just about every trip, you may be wondering how you can make the most out of your time.  For tips on how you can do so, please continue reading on.
The best way to make the most and get the most out of your next trip to California wine country is to plan ahead. You will want to know what each and every one of your options are.  This should include everything from guided wine tours to overnight accommodations.  Proper planning and preparation are key to having the vacation or trip of your dreams.
In terms of overnight accommodations, you will find a large number of options.  Popular options in wine country for tourists include hotels, vacation resorts, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, as well as inns.  For starters, you will want to ensure that you make your reservations well in advance, to help ensure that your first choices, like a vacation home rental, aren’t all filled up with reservations.  Secondly, it is important to stay at a place that is conveniently located.  This can help you get most out of your wine country trip by eliminating unnecessary travel.
A big staple of visiting wine country is taking a wine country tour.  When looking to do so, you will find that you have a number of options.  If you are looking to take your own independent tour, be sure to arrange for a designated driver.  You will want to stay safe.  If you everyone in your traveling party wants to drink, a guided wine tour may be in your best interest.  Yes, a guided wine tour will cost extra money, but you are usually provided with travel, either by small bus or van.  This makes is so that you don’t have to worry about ruining your fun or the fun of someone else in your group by requiring that just one person doesn’t get the opportunity to wine taste.
As previously stated, wine tours are a good idea for those who all want to be able to wine taste and without worry.  Before choosing a guided wine tour company, be sure to examine all of your options first.  Many will outline on their online websites which wineries and vineyards their tours stops at, for how long, and the costs of doing so.  The best way to make the most out of your next wine country trip is to get the most value for your money.
If you would like to tour local wineries independently and have arrangements for a designated driver, be sure to examine all of your options, in terms of wineries and vineyards in the area.  Since you have hundreds to choose from, you will want to prioritize.  Which are must sees for you?  Most vineyards have open doors, tours of their grounds, and wine tasting available on a daily basis; however, you may also want to examine other planned events.  For example, if a winery is having an educational class on the making of wine during your trip dates, it may be worth making plans to attend.
In keeping with independent wine tours, you will want to create a map for yourself.  Once you have an idea of which wineries and vineyards you would like to visit, mark them on a map.  Then, what you will want to do is decide on a method of travel.  Try to visit all of the wineries you checked off on your map in an order that allows you to maximize your time.  The best way to do this is to create a set path to follow, namely one that does not result in you backtracking.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Sunday, February 20, 2011

5 Reasons Why Every Wine Drinker Should Visit California’s Wine Country

5 Reasons Why Every Wine Drinker Should Visit California’s Wine Country
Do you enjoy drinking wine?  Do you consider yourself to be a wine enthusiast?  If so, have you ever visited California wine country?  If this is a trip that you have yet to make, you will want to consider adding it to your to do list.  After all, California wine country is most well known for its large number of wineries and all of the great activities they hold.
As nice as it is to hear that you should visit California’s wine country, you may be looking for more reasons why. After all, you may be content with sipping your favorite wine from the comfort of your own home.  Even if this is your preferred method of drinking wine, there are still a number of reasons why you should make the trip to wine country.  Just a few of those reasons, five to be exact, are touched on below.
1 – Your Options
Your options are unlimited, literally, when visiting California wine country.  Did you know that California has over four hundred vineyards and wineries?  They do and most are open to the public, often all year round.  What does this mean for you?  It means that you can have the vacation of your dreams, as you are able to hand pick just about every step you take.
2 – Winery Activities
The biggest draw to California wine country is the wineries.  As previously stated, you have a large number of wineries and vineyards to choose from.  Those aren’t your only options either.  California wine country has so many wine related activities for you to enjoy that you may not even know where to start.
Although you will find some variations, depending on the public winery in question, many offer similar activities.  These activities may include wine tours, individual winery ground tours, wine tasting, educational classes with a focus on wine, annual wine festivals, and much more.  With so much to do and see in wine country, it may be best to request a few free vacation guides.
3 – Easy to Plan
Whether you live in New York State or in California, planning a trip to California’s wine country is relatively easy to do.  Did you know that many vacation packages are available to you?  These vacation packages may include a stay at a hotel, your airline reservations, as well as a car rental.  Vacation packages are a nice way to make travel arrangements, as they are quick, easy, and convenient. 
As for wine tours, they are also easy to plan.  Tourists have the option of touring local wineries on their own, independently, or they can book reservations for a guided wine tour.  Guided wine tours are often the simplest option, as every aspect of your tour is already planned out for you.
4 – Other Fun Activities for You to Enjoy
As if the above mentioned wine themed activities that you can in enjoy in California’s wine country weren’t enough, there is so much for you to do and see in the state of California.  If you are interested in planning a vacation, you can make visiting and touring wine country just a portion of your vacation.  However, may recommend spending at least two days touring the area and local wineries.  Many other fun vacation activities in California include driving to the coast and enjoying a day at the beach, hiking, boating, shopping, and much more.
5 – An Experience You Will Never Forget
Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should consider planning a trip to California wine country is because it is something you will remember for years to come.  Even those who aren’t wine drinkers, report having a memorable experience.  The beauty of California wine country is breathtaking.  With that said, you are more likely to enjoy at trip to wine country if you are a wine drinker yourself.  This is because, as previously stated, most of the activities you gain access to have a wine theme, such as winery tours and wine tasting.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Planning a Napa Valley Wine Tour

Planning a Napa Valley Wine Tour
Are you in the process of planning a trip to Northern California?  If you are, you will want to take the time to examine Napa Valley, especially if you are wine drinker.  Napa Valley is in California’s wine country.  If you are going to be in the area, you may want to stop by for a day or two and take a Napa Valley wine tour or two.
If you are already going to be in the Northern California area, you will not need to make any additional travel arrangements.  However, if you are interested in spending a day or two in wine country, namely Napa Valley, you may want to checkout a few of the inns and bed and breakfasts in the area.  Many come highly rated and recommended and most are also conveniently located for those on wine tours.
Should you wish to take a Napa Valley wine tour, you will find that you have a number of different options.  For example, you can drive yourself in your own vehicle or in a car rental or you can make reservations for a guided wine tour.  Guided wines are popular in wine county, but you don’t have as much freedom as you would traveling through the area touring local wineries on your own.
If you are interested in stopping by local wineries and vineyards for tours and wine tasting on your own, without a guided tour group, you will want to start examining all of your options as soon as possible.  Wine country is filled with hundreds of wineries and vineyards and most of them are open to the public.  Since you will not be able to visit all of the wineries in the area, you will want to handpick the ones that you do stop at.  When doing so, examine admission fees, wine tasting costs, hours, and events that may be occurring, such as an educational class on the history of wine making.
As it was previously stated, you will want examine cost when deciding which wineries and vineyards you should visit in the area.  Not all charge an admission fee, but some do.  That is why you will want to try and research local wineries online first. There are a number of online travel guides that can help you do so.  As for wine tasting, you should be prepared to pay a small fee. While you will find some variances, average wine tasting fees are typically between ten and twenty dollars.  As for any special events, like an hour long educational class, rates will vary significantly.
As mentioned above, you can use the internet to learn more about local wineries and vineyards in the Napa Valley area.  What you may also want to do is search for printable wine country maps.  Once you have a printed map, you can then circle each winery you would like to stop at along the way.  Printable wine California country maps can easily be found with a standard internet search.  You may also be able to find similar maps available for pickup at wineries and other establishments throughout Napa Valley.
In conclusion, you have a number of different options when looking to take a Napa Valley wine tour.  As reminder, if you will be drinking, be sure to display caution.  Many large groups make the decision to choose a designated driver and your traveling party may want to do the same as well.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Why You Should Take a Wine Country Tour

Why You Should Take a Wine Country Tour
Are you wine drinker?  If you are, have you ever thought about the history of wine, such as how it is made or why wine drinking and tasting is known as a popular activity?  If you have, you may want to plan a visit to wine country.  With that being said, a “traditional,” visit isn’t all that you should do, you should also take a wine country tour.
As nice as it is to hear that you should visit wine country and take a wine country tour, you may be wondering why.  After all, depending on where you live, you may need to travel quite far to visit an area that is referred to as wine country.  After a close exanimation, you will see that there are a number of reasons why you should not only visit wine country, but also take a wine country tour.
One of the many reasons why you should arrange to take a wine country tour is because of the options you have.  For starters, wine country is a phrase that is used to describe an area that is known for their production of wine. When many of us think of wine country, California, namely Northern California, is often what first comes to mind.  With that said, there are other areas in the United States that are commonly referred to as wine country as well, such as part of New York State and Washington State.  Many of these other areas and their wineries also offer tours for wine enthusiasts.
As previously stated, depending on where you live, you may have to travel quite a distance to arrive at California’s wine country or another state’s wine country.  Even so, you are still urged to examine your options.  This is because wine tours make for great vacations.  Depending on where you visit, you can spend a few hours touring local vineyards and wineries or you can spend a few days doing so.  Also, in terms of being a great purpose for being a vacation, many of the communities surrounding well known vineyards and wineries have an unlimited number of fun activities, such as hiking and dancing, as well as affordable overnight accommodations.
Returning back to the options that you have, it is important to know that wine tours come in a number of different formats. Guided wine tours are perfect for tourists who want to see the “best parts,” of wine country, as well as those who are unfamiliar with the area or may not have their own mode of transportation.  Although you will find some variations, many guided wine tours have tourists meet in a public place and then travel is provided, often by van or bus.
Although guided wine tours are popular with tourists, there are many more individuals, including both tourists and locals, who are interested in taking independent wine country tours.  Independent wine tours are ideal for wine enthusiasts who want to enjoy wine and its history without feeling rushed or pressured by other tourists and tour guides.  Most wineries and vineyards in California, as well as Washington and New York, have open doors.  If not, information on ideal times for visiting should be readily available online.  This information is typically posted to prevent conflict with planned events, such as weddings.
For the most part, tourists find that taking wine tours are affordable.  Many wineries and vineyards provide free access to visitors, but there are no guarantees.  For most part, the costs associated with wine tours comes from wine tasting, which is a must do.  However, you still shouldn’t have to be worried with the costs.  Most wine country wineries and vineyards have affordable wine tasting rates, which are typically between five and fifteen dollars per person.  As for taking a guided wine tour, you will likely be charged a fee, but your fee may include wine tasting at a number of wineries along the way.
Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should take a wine country tour is because it is an experience that you will never forget.  Not only are wine tours fun for wine drinkers, but they are also enlightening and educational in nature.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/