5 Myths About Wine Tours And Why They Are Wrong

Wine + Travel can equal an unforgettable vacation.  But organized wine tours can seem a bit intimidating for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are just misconceptions though and aren’t necessarily true. Here are five myths about wine tours – along with why they are flawed.

You have to already be a wine expert to enjoy a wine tour.

This is absolutely not true! The number one reason people travel in general is to learn and experience new things. Essentially, a wine tour’s purpose is to learn more about the vineyards, wineries, varietals, climate, cuisine, and even history of a specific region. What better way to learn about wine than through a hands-on experience? Even wine experts will admit that they don’t know absolutely everything there is to know about wine – it’s impossible! So don’t be shy while on a wine tour, ask as many questions as you’d like.

Wine tours are expensive.

This one can be true for some wine tours – but if you do your research you can find ones that aren’t going to break the bank.  We at Taste Vacations offer a variety of wine tours that can fit a range of budgets.  For instance, our Sonoma Wine & Walking tour is only $1,200 for a 3-day trip with a personal wine guide. Or if you have more room in your budget and your calendar, you can take a 6-day Basque Country & Rioja Food & Wine Tour for $3,500.

The only places to go on a wine tour is Napa Valley or France.

Yes, Napa Valley and regions in France like Champagne or Bourdeaux are extremely well known for their wines – but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy a wine tour to a lesser known region. In fact, you may enjoy it more. When you seek out the smaller wine regions, you begin to feel the passion of wine and winemaking. You can usually spend some quality time with the people behind the bar or even in the vineyards or cellars. Plus every wine region typically has one or two varietals they are known for so you won’t be lacking in good wine either.

It’s going to be all about wine 100% of the time.

If you are booking a one-day wine tour, then yes your tour may be all about the wine. But if you are looking for a multi-day wine tour, you can find options that blend a few different interests into a fun and engaging itinerary. For instance, on our Tuscany Food & Wine Tour, you’ll not only taste some of the finest wines this region has to offer, but you’ll also enjoy truffle hunting with a local agriculturalist, dine with the president of the local La Strada dei Sapori, “The Road of Taste”, and learn about barista training and coffee roasting at an Italian cafe.  Though we love to learn about wine, we try to also provide a fuller picture of the region’s cuisine and culture.

People on wine tours are pretentious.

Yes, there are pretentious people in the wine industry – we know, we’ve met them. BUT that doesn’t mean everyone is. Honestly, we’ve met far more genuinely passionate people who are excited to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about their wines. We’d like to think Taste Vacations fits into the latter category. We are serious about creating memorable wine vacations but like to keep things casual and fun. When researching a wine tour operator, pay attention to how they describe their tours. If it sounds pretentious online, there’s a good chance the tour will be that way too.