In this 4-part series, we’ll show you how to customize your wine trailing experience. We’ll be covering the following topics:
Part 1 – Should You Use a Wine Tour Guide or Do It Yourself?
Part 2 – 7 Steps to Choosing a Wine Tour Company
Part 3 – 7 Steps to Planning a Do-It-Yourself Wine Trail Tour
Part 4 - Important Resources for Wine Trail Visitors
Touring the Finger Lakes Wine Trails – Part 1: Wine Tour Guide or DIY?
Many select a wine tour company so they can enjoy the full tasting experience
Anytime of the year is terrific for a tour of Finger Lakes wineries! Many people think of doing the wine trails during the spring, summer and fall, but even during the snowy winter months, you can spend a leisurely day meandering the trails, because most wineries are open year ’round.
If you are thinking of doing a Finger Lakes wine trail tour, the first questions you’ll want to consider is who is going, how many are in your party, and what their various experiences are with wines and Finger Lakes Wineries.
The reason these questions are important is that if many in your group are new to Finger Lakes wine trailing and tasting, you may want to take a professionally-guided tour by a company that specializes in giving wine trail tours. Their knowledge of the roads, the various points of interest along the route plus the wineries and their wines can greatly enhance your experience. These companies will customize a tour to your specific interests and tastes.
An advantage of having a professional guide is that you don’t have to worry about having a designated driver – everyone in the group can enjoy the wine trailing experience. Although wine tasters are encouraged to “sip and spit,” by the end of five or six hours of wine trailing, it’s not unusual to feel the effects of so much sipping.
Another decision to consider is whether you and your group or partner want to combine an overnight stay with your wine trail tour. Heading out to a nice restaurant and then back to the hotel for a relaxing evening can be a terrific recipe for a most memorable experience, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Many hotels and B&Bs offer wine touring packages that can be cost-effective and provide “one-stop shopping,” so you don’t have to arrange the various pieces.
Throughout the region, there are a number of very reputable companies that offer wonderful wine tours. Some of their drivers serve as Guides, sharing information about the region, the trails, the wineries, their wines and winemakers. Others act as chauffeurs, simply driving you from location to location. Your preference may depend on your and your group’s or partner’s prior experience.
If you already have experience with the Finger Lakes wine trails and tasting, you prefer a more private experience, or you would like a more economical way to tour, you may decide to customize your own tour. For guidance on how to do this, skip to Part 3 and 4 where I cover the do-it-yourself tour and offer resources for wine trail visitors.
In our next post, we’ll explore what questions to investigate if you plan to use a Finger Lakes Wine Touring Service.
Question: If you’ve ever used a winery tour service rather than doing it yourself, would you recommend it? What are the advantages?
If you found this article helpful, you may also wish to read the following posts on Wine Trailing in the Finger Lakes:
- On the Finger Lakes Wine Trail with Quality Wine Tours.
- Part 2: Seven Steps to Touring with a Wine Tour or Transportation Company
- Part 3: Do-it-yourself Wine Trailing
- Part 4: Resources for Wine Trail Visitors
Wine counter photo used under creative commons license from sxc.