Four Unique Ways to Go Wine Tasting for an Unforgettable Experience

If you’re a wine lover, whether you’re a true sommelier or just a casual sipper, you’ve probably been to wine tastings at every vineyard in your region. Plus, the average wine tasting event follows the same formula and can get a little boring, even at the most beautiful wineries. This list will help you come up with a unique, special idea for your next wine-tasting trip, and you’ll be sure to have a lot of fun along the way.

Go International

Traveling is a wonderful way to experience all the great wines of the world. If you’ve already tasted all the wine that California has to offer, you might enjoy a trip to Bordeaux for your next glass of red wine, or to Tuscany for some Chianti. A big trip to Europe might be out of your budget, but variety can still be

experienced by taking a Singapore cruise, stopping along the shoreline to experience the unique varieties that the region has to offer. You may have to leave your comfort zone, but you’ll have an unforgettable experience and maybe find your new favorite wines.

Move Under Ground and Up In the Air

This may not be an experience for the claustrophobic wine lover, but going to an underground winery is an unforgettable and extremely unique experience. Try Jarvis Caves in Napa Valley, California to be surrounded by geodes and an underground spring, or the Fritz Underground Winery to combine the gorgeous upper-ground views with the calming atmosphere of the storage caves. Forget all your previous conceptions of what wineries should be like. The caves are sure to be an incredible time, and different from anything you’ve seen before.

If below ground isn’t your ideal place to taste wine, perhaps you’d enjoy a scenic flight with Flying M Air in Washington, taking you through breathtaking scenery before you land for a tasting at the final destination.

Or take the tram at Sterling Vineyards to get an incredible, 360 degree view of the landscape. Airborne wine tastings are the perfect location for a proposal, bonding with friends, or just treating yourself to an unforgettable experience.

Make a Day of It

Some wine-tasting experiences may only last as long as it takes for you to finish your wine and move on, but others are a day-long experience, full of educational tours and endless grounds that could be explored for hours. Some, like Hall Wines in Rutherford, California, are like museums to the art of wine making and should be given your full attention for the majority of your wine tasting excursion.

Another way to extend your wine tasting experience is to book five to six different wineries for the same day, particularly if you’re in wine country. Taste a few drinks at each, and book a car or bus to take you to each location. That way, you can come away from your vacation knowing you experienced everything the region had to offer, and you’ll be an experienced wine taster by the end of your trip.

Take a Safari

The combination of a fast moving vehicle and a glass of wine may not seem ideal, but a wine tasting safari can be an incredible experience. Observe giraffes, zebras, alpacas, and more in their natural habitat while you sip on the Malibu Wine Safari, stopping at various wineries along the way to experience the region’s offerings. Some tours even allow guests to pet and feed the animals, so you may be able to experience wildlife like never before.

Whatever you choose for your next wine tasting trip, you’ll never regret leaving your comfort zone for one of these options. With a little creativity, you’ll be able to make memories that will last a lifetime and see some of the most beautiful locations on earth. If you feel like doing some wine tasting that’s not at a cruise, a place I highly recommend is at Ayza in New York City. Highly recommend to check them out and do some wine tasting, book at pp@ayzanyc.com. Regardless, pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable experience, and a whole lot of delicious wine.

Please click here to view photos from the events.

By Lindsey Patterson