|
 Hi Wine Friends,
As promised, this month is all about traveling with wine! I hope you’ve spent the week dreaming up your next getaway, whether it's to a distant land or somewhere closer to home. If you're still searching for inspiration, this week I'm sharing my process for picking the perfect wine destination. You could almost consider this a journaling exercise - so grab a notebook or use it as an excuse to have a conversation with your bestie - and have fun going through these questions!
1. What are three ultimate dream destinations?
Close your eyes and imagine your dream vacation destinations. Let your mind wander without constraints of cost or time. Are you envisioning the rolling hills of Tuscany, the sun-kissed mountains of Mendoza, or perhaps the rugged coastlines of Portugal? Write down the top three places that immediately spring to mind. These destinations represent the essence of your travel aspirations, the places that ignite your imagination and stir your soul.
2. What is it about these places that excites you?
Now that you have your dream destinations, dig deeper into what draws you to each place. Consider your passions and interests. Are you captivated by the history and culture of ancient civilizations, or do you long for the tranquility of remote landscapes? Think about the unique experiences each destination offers, from savoring gourmet cuisine in France to embarking on safari adventures in South Africa. Let your gut guide you towards adventures that resonate with you because this will make your travel not only memorable but meaningful.
3. What can I spend right now?
Once you've identified your pie-in-the-sky dream destinations and what it is about them that makes your heart race, it's time to bring practicality into the equation. I know this isn’t always fun, but it’s crucial to assess your budget realistically, considering both financial constraints and available time… Maybe what’s doable right now is a road trip and not a transatlantic flight. Maybe it’s a 5 day trip and not a 5 week one. While it’s tempting to splurge on a lavish vacation, nothing kill’s enjoyment quicker than stressing about money. Determine what both your bank account and your calendar can afford and meet me in the next step…
4. Where else could I go?
Now return to your dream destinations… In light of what you’re passionate about and what your finances and calendar can afford, are there other more suitable options? Maybe Greece is on your list and what draws you to it is sunshine, seafood and wine on the beach… but maybe a visit to Valle de Guadalupe would fit all those criteria for a fraction of the cost and the travel time. Maybe the peaks of the Chilean Andes are a little out of reach… but the Finger Lakes of New York would satisfy your desire for snowy mountains and crisp white wine. This step can be equally exciting, because it might involve discovering places you’ve never before considered!
5. Who am I traveling with?
Finally, consider who you’re traveling with. What are they passionate about? If they also love wine, maybe you can devote multiple days to it (or even structure the whole trip around it!). But if it’s not their thing, maybe you just do one day of wine tasting. Or maybe you plan to do your own thing for a few days.
I’ve had the experience of excitedly planning multiple wine outings on a vacation, only to realize that my travel partner was much less into it than I was. He was tagging along to make me happy but he was clearly bored and would have rather been exploring museums or the local beer scene. And this realization immediately made me feel bad and enjoy myself less - which is the opposite of what you want to feel on vacation!
Knowing who you’re traveling with and what their preferences are will also help inform the types of regions and producers you visit. If I’m traveling to France with my aunt and uncle who drink a lot of full bodied red wine, I’ll go see traditional producers in Bordeaux or the Rhone Valley; but if I’m traveling with my hipster friends from Brooklyn, we’d probably head to see natural winemakers in the Loire Valley.
|
