Where to Go Next!
Wine Festivals, Auctions, and Events Crowd the Calendar
by Greg
McCluney
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Tasting
at The 2007 Atlanta Fine Wine Festival |
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1.
A self-guided trip to the wine region of your choice.
You may think all you need is a good map, but that’s
not enough. Self-Guided Trips. Know the customs and crowd patterns of your region. For example, if you don’t like crowds, you’ll want to consider visiting in the early spring or late fall. However, avoid harvest if you want some special attention from the winemaker; you’ll never see him/her. Many wineries have changed to appointment-only tours and tastings, which means you may need a reservation, so call ahead. Be sure to bring your credit card, as many are now charging per-taste or for a flight of wines. Order a good winery map from the web and plan a route based on distance. Eat a hearty breakfast; you’ll need it. Visiting more than three or four wineries a day is usually not feasible—and not much fun either. Drink lots of water, and use the buckets to avoid a night in a local public hotel without a view (i.e., lockup)! And it’s best to plan a rest/nap before you head out to dinner – and more wine. Wine Festivals. Often purchased as a package, sometimes individual events are purchased separately, and you can pick and choose within your budget. Get a detailed brochure/download well in advance of the date, and plan your visit by the day. Scheduling (and paying in advance) for too many events can be a big mistake. Again, start with a good breakfast, because every event will include wine, and sometimes quite a lot of it. The thrill is gone if you spend the remainder of the day in the room because you were over-served. Avoid driving if possible, and take note of the geography. For example, at the Aspen event you’ll be over a mile high—and every sip of wine is a double! |
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| Wine Seminars at The Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Charity Wine Auctions. These may or may not be part of a larger festival or wine weekend. You’ll usually pay in advance for a paddle and several pre- and post-events, tastings and dinners. An auction can be fun, but also grueling to say the least. People usually travel in groups and can be cold to outsiders. The noise level is severe and the auction can last for hours. If you’re not prepared to bid, it can be frankly boring. The food may be sparse and the donated wines mediocre (remember, this is a charity event). Often the other events are more enjoyable. But it’s like a casino – if you love the action, you’re in heaven! Best to attend a small auction first and see if this is your “cup of wine.” Food Festivals. Typically promoted as food/wine/beer events to attract more attendees, these are often NOT really wine events – something you might not find out until you get there and have already paid for the privilege, your hotel and travel costs. Check the events in detail. Do they name winemakers/vintners per se? Are there special event dinners at good, known restaurants? Are there visiting chefs you’ve heard of who are going to be on premise, cooking? Or are they just there to make an appearance, maybe give a demo and go home? What exactly is being poured, where and when? A little research can make or break your big wine weekend! Some Atlanta /Regional Wine Events to Sample Before you commit the big bucks and fly out to the Napa Auction (if you can get in), consider attending some local/regional events so you can get your palate wet and find out what format appeals to your tastes.
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