subject: California Wine And National Wine Tourism [print this page] Whether your appetite is for long journeys or the comfort of a familiar state, wine tourism can give you an excuse for the trip and ensure you'll have something delicious to enjoy while you're there. This type of travel has become a major source of income for many regions, and most people attempt to at least add a short wine trip to their vacations if it's at all feasible. This is why California wine trips are so popular for people from all over the world, just as with their Spanish, French, Australian, Italian, and South American counterparts. You get to go somewhere that fits your ideal travel destination, maybe even support a local charity if you pick the right vineyard, and drink great wine. What's not to love?
Wine tourism destinations range from local to far flung to exotic. For most people in the United States, the most common wine destination is Northern California. This includes Napa and Sonoma Valley as well as a number of other less-known areas. The chance to enjoy California's northern sites and great California wine for a small price tag appeals to many. However, there are also vineyards across the East Coast, from North Carolina to Virginia to Long Island, New York. These East Coast wineries might not have the same level of fame as those in Napa and Sonoma do, but if you need a closer opportunity for a wine trip, they might just be perfect. With any wine tourism vacation in California it's important to plan ahead and book as much of the trip in advance as possible. It's also a good idea to consider the weather and speak to someone with experience who isn't trying to make money from you to figure out the best time for your schedule.
If you want to travel a little further, Western Europe is obviously the place. The birthplace of wine and home to three of the most important countries in the development of a number of world-class varietals and years, Western Europe makes an exciting, if expensive, vacation destination for most people. The culinary and wine opportunities make it very appealing. In fact, it's entirely possible to take a week or more and stay the entire time in just France, Germany, Italy, or Spain, travelling to various vineyards for tours and seeing the sites these countries have to offer with their centuries of history. Europe is often surprisingly expensive for people from the U.S., even in the "poorer" regions. So it's a good idea to figure out how much lodging and basic expenses will cost beforehand so you can be sure to have enough to afford a few extra delicious bottles to bring home.
If you're looking for something even farther from California wine and the comfort of home, South America and Australia offer wine tourism destinations that boast some of the world best wineries. Trips to Australia, Argentina, and Chile will be full just from taking wine tours and enjoying the local cuisine. Of course, all these destinations also offer a plethora of other exciting experiences, from jungle explorations and other thrills to fine art to peaceful, white sandy beaches. It might take a little more time to get there, and you have to be a little more willing to expect the unexpected, but one thing that won't disappoint you is the wine.
Wine tourism gets more popular and valuable every year, as new wineries and new countries enter the international wine market and seek to capture this valuable form of tourism. So no matter what your taste in travel, there is a wine tour out there for you, be it with California wines or something a little less conventional.
