out which is which. Include in your destination some wines you know and love, but also leave enough time to visit their lesser-known neighbours.
Open the door. While some wineries offer a small taste without charge, many will ask a nominal fee for a taste or a flight of tastes, or have a formula in place if customers make a purchase. Tasting a flight of wines makes sense because it offers a unique window into the approach of the winemaker. To get the most of the experience, be a good taster: hold the glass by the stem, give it a swirl, a smell and a taste. And whether the person pouring is the winemaker or a staff member, be sure to ask questions. These people are almost invariably knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Immerse Yourself. Plan to fully immerse yourself in the wine community, advises Sherri Lockwood, the Marketing Manager of Premium Wine Channels in Niagara.“ A bit of pre-planning is good, so you can find your favourites and taste wines that you know,” Sherri says.“ But be open to something interesting. Ask the locals for their recommendations.” In any region, the wine community is relatively small, and people know each other. They will be able to send you to interesting new places or lesser-known gems.
“ A bit of pre-planning is good, so you can find your favourites and taste wines that you know.”— Sherri Lockwood, Marketing Manager of Premium Wine Channels in Niagara
Travelling in wine country is not just about tasting wine. Some wineries offer fine dining with celebrated restaurants on-site, making for a truly remarkable experience. Peller Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to the renowned Chef Jason Parsons, who has brought his work into their signature“ Art of Wine and Food” event. Cellar Door Bistro at the Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland, British Columbia is another great wineryhosted eatery, featuring the regionally inspired culinary creations of Executive Chef Roger Planiden.
In some places, the added option of staying on-site is a remarkable experience in immersion. Ployez-Jacquemart, a French family-run, high quality Champagne producer, has a beautiful bed and breakfast at their estate in the town of Ludes( see www. ployez-jacquemart. fr). It is a short, scenic drive of about fifteen minutes from the city of Reims. Make sure to book your rooms early: there are not many of these around, and they go quickly.
Top: Ployez-Jacquemart Bed and Breakfast in Ludes, France; Centre: Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Bottom: Clayhouse Vineyard in Paso Robles, California
Getting there, getting home. If you are travelling in the summer, it’ s a good idea to bring along plenty of water to drink along the way— it’ s
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