Tours of Wine Country - Guided or Self?
Are you interested in visiting wine country this year? Deciding where can be pretty tough: California, New York, Washington? Or, maybe somewhere in France or Italy? Once you've narrowed it down to a particular region or appellation, you have to decide which wineries to choose. More tough decisions. Then you have to decide if you're going to go with guided tours or set out on your own. Will the decisions never end?
In future posts I can help you decide which wineries to visit. But, right now, I'm going to discuss guided wine tours vs. self-guided tours.
Why You May Want a Guided Wine Tour
1) Automatic Designated Driver
This is an important factor that many do not take into consideration right away. Many people think they'll just have a few sips here and there, what's to worry about? Well, for many people, a few sips of wine can quickly add up.
2) You Get to See the Countryside
When you're driving around looking for the winery, you aren't as able to look around at the beautiful countryside. With a tour bus or van (or even a tour limo) you get to see so much more than when you're the one driving.
3) The Planning's all Done for You
If you don't know the area or the wineries, it may be tough to decide which ones to visit. If you choose a guided wine tour, all that decision-making has been done for you.
Why You May Want a Self-Guided Wine Tour
1) Self-Guided Tours can be Cheaper
With guided wine tours you have to pay the company much more than you would if you just drove around yourself.
2) There's More Freedom of Choice
When you choose a guided tour you have to go to the places they take you to. There's no freedom to visit some small label that's off the tour. While not having to decide which wineries to visit may appeal to some people, many people want to read up on certain labels and plan their tour accordingly.
3) You Don't Get Stuck with Jerks
There's nothing worse than being stuck for a few hours with obnoxious people who just see the wineries as one big bar. When you choose a self-guided tour you can escape those obnoxious people.
Whichever tour you decide, remember to have fun but be responsible. If you're taking your own self-guided tour, you might want to designate one person who will have very little or no wine. And, if you're in a guided tour, remember that many people visit wineries to sample wines, not to get drunk. Again, there's nothing more obnoxious than someone puking right outside the tour bus in front of the tasting room.
In future posts I can help you decide which wineries to visit. But, right now, I'm going to discuss guided wine tours vs. self-guided tours.
Why You May Want a Guided Wine Tour
1) Automatic Designated Driver
This is an important factor that many do not take into consideration right away. Many people think they'll just have a few sips here and there, what's to worry about? Well, for many people, a few sips of wine can quickly add up.
2) You Get to See the Countryside
When you're driving around looking for the winery, you aren't as able to look around at the beautiful countryside. With a tour bus or van (or even a tour limo) you get to see so much more than when you're the one driving.
3) The Planning's all Done for You
If you don't know the area or the wineries, it may be tough to decide which ones to visit. If you choose a guided wine tour, all that decision-making has been done for you.
Why You May Want a Self-Guided Wine Tour
1) Self-Guided Tours can be Cheaper
With guided wine tours you have to pay the company much more than you would if you just drove around yourself.
2) There's More Freedom of Choice
When you choose a guided tour you have to go to the places they take you to. There's no freedom to visit some small label that's off the tour. While not having to decide which wineries to visit may appeal to some people, many people want to read up on certain labels and plan their tour accordingly.
3) You Don't Get Stuck with Jerks
There's nothing worse than being stuck for a few hours with obnoxious people who just see the wineries as one big bar. When you choose a self-guided tour you can escape those obnoxious people.
Whichever tour you decide, remember to have fun but be responsible. If you're taking your own self-guided tour, you might want to designate one person who will have very little or no wine. And, if you're in a guided tour, remember that many people visit wineries to sample wines, not to get drunk. Again, there's nothing more obnoxious than someone puking right outside the tour bus in front of the tasting room.
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