24 Nov What to Expect at a Wine Festival
Festivals carry an air of celebration and sharing: sharing of food, culture and music, as well as lots of stuff for sale that showcases the talents of various vendors. They’re a great way to be introduced to new things and enjoy some of the tried and true favorites you always go for (doesn’t it seem like you can always find hot, homemade scones or street tacos at events like this?). Do you remember the 4th of July celebrations in your hometown? The festival that spread all over the courthouse lawn and grounds? And wasn’t there a bandstand set up with lots of different groups playing live entertainment for a few days and all kinds of cuisine offered at the many booths? There were likely folks selling jewelry, photography, clothing, stained glass orbs, and other handcrafted goods, too. And, out in the street, the blinking lights, movement, and music of carnival rides attracted children and adults alike.
While this may not be your exact experience, you can probably recall something similar in your mind—a time where you walked around with lots of other people, smelling delicious food, sampling new things, and stopping to people watch while you listened to the band on stage.
Wine festivals are often held at harvest time, when the yield from grape crops is picked and the winemaking process begins. While some festivals are smaller and more locally focused, others are big, with an international presence. But, either way, you’ll likely experience these things when you attend one:
Wine tasting. That’s likely what is bringing you to the festival in the first place! Since that’s the prime focus, you’ll have the opportunity to taste several wines, become acquainted with unique pairings, and celebrate different aspects of viticulture. Winemaking has been perpetuated for millennia and it’s fascinating to learn about and appreciate this rich tradition.
Food. The food may be focused on a particular type of cuisine (like seafood), or it may be a smorgasbord of tasty options for the palate. For example, if you’re a foodie, you may want to try out the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, an international event that brings chefs to the table as well. Festival goers can even sign up for cooking classes, as well as enjoy a wide variety of wines and delicious food.
Music. What’s a festival without music? It’s always fun to listen to live performers and be exposed to stuff you’ve never heard before, and it’s even better if you end up liking a band so much they become a new favorite.
Vendors. You can obviously expect to be able to purchase wine if you find a new vintage or unique flavor combination that you love, but you’re likely to find a host of other things you may want to spend money on at the festival, too. From wood block prints to organic body butter, you never know what you’ll find.
Diversity. Because these types of events attract all kinds of folks, the people watching is good here! The more cosmopolitan the event location is, the more likely it is that you’ll hear all different types of music, taste many kinds of cuisine, and get to celebrate many peoples and cultures through what the various vendors bring to the event.
If you and a group of your wine connoisseur friends have decided to try out a wine festival for the first time, shop around to find the festival that offers what you’re looking for because they’re all different. Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, for example, offers the usual samplings from various wineries, but also features hot air balloons in the morning, and balloon glow events at night as well. Depending on where you want to go, you’ll find bigger festivals that showcase a larger number of wineries, or you might experience a more local feel at the smaller festivals.
Lastly, once you’ve decided which festival you’re going to attend, reserve a coach, and make memories en route before you even arrive at the festival. Even though they’re built to accommodate group travel, it doesn’t mean you will be sacrificing comfort or convenience. Our coaches boast lots of storage room for whatever you need to bring on the trip, and they’ll hold all the wine coolers you need to bring your purchases from the festival back home.
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