Staying on Track: Navigating Unexpected Changes in Your Wine Tour Itinerary

This podcast offers actionable tips on managing tasting durations, scheduling wine and food pairings, and the value of working with a wine tour operator. It’s designed to provide value to both first-time visitors and seasoned wine lovers planning a trip to the Willamette Valley.  ff

What to do when your wine tour itinerary gets off track. This episode is a real behind the scenes look at a tour group who's itinerary got off track and what steps we took to ensure a successful day. We also discuss tips for how guests and wineries can ensure they don't experience these itinerary delays in the future. Enjoy!

Transcript: Hi, welcome to two minute wine tasting tips. Today we’re going to discuss wine tasting in the cellar season. Why it’s preferred, and what compromises you should expect to make. There are a number of different wine regions that have seasons, like winter. The Willamette Valley is a good example, where your tasting experience will most definitely be indoors. You can thank the rain and cold temperatures for that.  Why do we call it Cellar Season? I think originally it was a fancy name for the slow season. Now I think the name implies the change of location from the viticulture outside in the vineyard, to the happenings of the winery inside. It’s a much more intimate side of the wine tasting experience. Cellar Season is one of my favorite times of year to taste wine. It brings a focus back to the winery. When you are inside you can get a glimpse of winery operations, including encounters with the winemaker. Some of us visualize the “winemaker” as a bit of a celebrity. However, they are often in comfortable clothes, heads down, working on the tasks of the day.  Cellar Season is a great time to see some winemaking action, and engage in conversation with the winemaker. I have also learned that among the responsibilities of winemakers is promoting and selling wine. This means they have brushed up on how they communicate the winemaking process and the characteristics of the vineyard and wines. Don’t be shy, they are not here to be the smartest in the room, but rather help you connect with the wine. With that said, if you are curious, don’t be shy. Cease the moment and engage. You wont regret it.  Now let’s talk about the compromises of wine tasting in Cellar Season.  The outdoors. The vines are dormant, there are no flowers blooming, and the views can often look a bit different than clear sunny skies. I challenge you to embrace this time of year. Take in the beauty of seeing the wine country in a very raw form. I promise it will still take your breath away.  Even though it’s overcast, admire the views. See the valley landscape and the curious lines of fog. See the rain approach through the mountains. These are incredible moments where nature forces its connection on you. Tasting rooms are smaller, so wine tasting with larger groups is typically out of the question. Keep your group sizes to 6 or less. In fact this is a good time to visit wine country with a few friends or another couple. Outdoor spaces tend to be limitless for wineries, however indoor spaces are finite. And many wineries just don’t have the indoor space to host large groups. Large groups require more staff, which is another reason many wineries are not able to accommodate groups over 6 people.  Tasting menus tend to focus on the reds versus white wines. Is this really a negative? I think not. You’ll find alternative wine programs from wineries who are purchasing grapes from other parts of Oregon and producing less common varietals. Don’t be afraid of whites in the Cellar Season. You’ll get an entirely different experience from drinking a glorious Riesling on a cold winter day. Let’s talk about weather. If you melt in the rain, then Cellar Season in Oregon is not the best place for you. I can’t think of a better indoor activity than wine tasting. The rain makes it easy to say yes to a cozy tasting room. Do yourself a favor this Cellar Season and plan a day of wine tasting. I guarantee you’ll get every bit as much out of the experience as you would in the Summer.

Transcript: Hi There, welcome back to two minute tasting tips. Today we are going to talk about the trend of transportation to and from wine related events. These events could include wine festivals, winemaker dinners, wine club events. The list goes on. There are a few different categories of transportation to consider. Hire a teenager Hire a transportation company (good for groups of 5+) Uber or Lyft Purchase the transportation ticket Let’s discuss these in reverse order. There is a trend right now that I personally hope grows not just for my own personal gain through the business, but because I believe it brings huge benefits to both the organization and consumer. Many wine related events, usually ones where you can taste multiple wines, beers or spirits are now offering a transportation option to and from the event from a central location.  This is huge! For not much more than the ticket price, you can have transportation to and from the event. Some people say, “well I still have to drive to the central location.” Yes, this is true, but you have options. The central location is likely close to your home. It’s easy to schedule a quick uber ride or phone a friend/spouse to drop you off. Boom problem solved. You are boarding a vehicle that will take you to the event and back. No need to fuss about logistics or safety; it's all done on your behalf. You just have to buy the right ticket. There are so many different events that happen in our wine country. Especially since we are living in an experience based economy. It’s not just about the product anymore, it’s about how you experience the brand. This couldn’t be more true for the food and beverage industries. Wineries are now innovating on the types of events they offer in order to get you to keep coming back.  Once you get there, it’s amazing. Beautiful spaces and views. But the problem is how do you get there, and do you really want to commit to two hours of driving? You could Uber or Lyft, but be careful. Oftentimes wine countries are rural and don’t have as much demand for these services.  If you are a group of 5+ you could consider hiring private transportation. Many tour companies also offer transportation by the hour. If you are traveling with a larger group and can split the costs. This option is a no brainer. Plus, you can listen to your own tunes and create the vibe before getting to the event. If you have the luxury and trust to hire your friend's teenage son or daughter, I have seen this be a successful option. Just be considerate of the times you are asking them to drive. Picking you up at 10pm, driving in the dark in a rural area, maybe not the best choice. No matter what you choose, choose one. You’ll have a better time, you’ll get the most out of your tickets, and you’ll avoid a tragic ticket or accident.

This episode talks starts with the top four reasons you shouldn't join NW Wine Club. If you relate to any of them, listen no further. If you don't this just might be the best wine club you've ever heard of.

Planning a day of wine tasting can be overwhelming and daunting. There are so many wineries to choose from, where do you begin. This episode talks about two simple clues that will give you the focus you need to design a great itinerary and ensure a smooth day of wine tasting.

This episode is all about places you can enjoy wine while paying a visit to your favorite farm animals.  View full transcript including links here.

This episode explores how to determine your wine storage needs based on your wine current wine buying patterns and objectives. 

For many of us, going to a winery was the perfect family outing. We could get some fresh air, picnic, have wine and spend time with out kids. It seems all that has changed since the pandemic. Is it for our safety, or an evolving wine country. 

This episode highlights the best dining in the Willamette Valley, while pointing out why top notch restaurants and chefs have found success in these rural wine country communities. And why you are guaranteed a better fine dining experience than in the city. Full Transcript here.