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Wine tour rule #1: Take on food

Posted on: February 7th, 2014 by Tom Peiffer No Comments

Nine times out of ten, wine tours are very casual with a few winery stops during the day followed by an early dinner and a chance to chill as the evening grows late.  But when you decide to go for it and make the most of the day with visits to 5+ wineries, a good plan is in order.Wine tour rule #1: Take on food

Unfortunately, one of the first things that gets ”squeezed” out of that plan is stopping for a decent meal during it all.  Forgetting to do this, combined with a 10am to 5pm tasting schedule, can do silly things to your both your digestion and driving.  Really, there is nothing that can ruin the day more than becoming a “subject of interest” to the local constabulary.

And to add to the challenge, many of the best tours are in fairly rural areas without much else than rolling hills and vineyards stretching for miles.  Take Paso Robles for example.  Once you depart from town, there aren’t many stops except for wineries.  So to arrange a for lunch break, that means swinging back through town, making it difficult to fully appreciate many of the outlying attractions.

However, there are several Paso Robles wineries that have decided to address this situation by offering a rather creative option, light dining with their tasting.  That way, it’s easy for visitors to take on some nourishment to compliment (and counteract) a whole day’s worth of vino consumption.

One of the best of these near Paso is the Cass Winery.  Its owners, fully aware of how tastings are included with food in Europe (while seated at tables), decided very early on to integrate wine sampling with dining on their portico.  This, combined with the fact that Cass is way out on the road to Creston, makes it a perfect stop for an all-day tour of Paso Robles’ east side wineries.

At Cass, simply place an order for lunch and a tasting, take a number to your table, relax and enjoy.  Their delicious food gives your stomach a little to work on while you savor some of the area’s best Rhone Varietals.  Then, on the return to Paso, while enjoying a few more stops with sustenance to back it up, you’ll fare a lot better.

Granted, it’s difficult to stay fed on rural tours, but with a little planning, it’s easy.  By starting out after a big brunch, packing a food basket, or including a venue that serves meals, it’s possible to hit 6 wineries daily, avoid unwanted entanglements, and still feel great at dinner.

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About the Author - Tom Peiffer

Tom has been an avid wine consumer and collector for over 20 years. This pastime has taken he and his family on many visits to wine growing regions, including Arizona. During these excursions, with the accompanying tastings and lectures, it became clear that there is no "magic bullet" wine. For each wine contains its own character, strong points, and weaknesses. Sharing these experiences to help anyone purchase locally available wines is his goal.

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