When it comes to tourism, the vine is where it’s at. The global wine tourism market has seen tremendous growth that will only continue in the next decade, with an expected value of $47.5 billion by 2033. More people want to enrich their travel experiences by exploring various cuisines and wines from top vintners.  Growing interest didn’t emerge overnight, either. More brands are creating immersive wine-tasting tours with variations to delight new and experienced tasters, expanding the potential and scope of these events. If you want to go on a tour yourself, bringing some essentials for a complete trip is best.  Read on to get the best tips on what to bring to a wine tasting.

Comfortable shoes

Although different tours have specific setups and potential means of transport, you should expect a typical vineyard tour to involve quite a bit of walking. This gives you a real sense of the land where your wine comes from and is an opportunity to bask in the stunning views all around you. Even if you’re not going on a hike, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes. 

Plenty of great brands offer quality shoes to save your feet from soreness without sacrificing your style. Though you should be primarily concerned with your comfort, wanting to stay social media-ready during your tour is understandable. A classic pair of Adidas should look casual chic and feel great for extended walks. If you prefer to let your feet breathe, you can’t go wrong with a Birkenstock, especially as these come in different colors for various outfits throughout your trip.

Reusable water bottle

The key to a successful wine-tasting tour is to stay hydrated. Not only are you exposed to the elements, but you are also doing a lot of tasting. Although you aren’t meant to consume all the wine you taste, this will still inevitably dehydrate you. It’s better to sip on cold, fresh water, especially since you want to cleanse your palette to appreciate the distinction between different wines. 

Although many tours offer water at any moment, bringing your own reusable water bottle is always best. This way, you can have it ready whenever you need it and refill it as you, please. These bottles are more sustainable and healthier than microplastic-filled single-use options. Experts note that unlined aluminum, steel, and glass bottles are the best options to avoid leaching chemicals into your water. Hydro Flask is popular because its insulated bottles have no BPA or BPS, and there are many creators making accessories for them, like a disc pocket for an Apple Air Tag, so you can easily find your bottle if it gets lost during your wine tour.

Quality sunglasses 

Wine grapes are carefully grown under specific sun conditions, so expect to be outdoors if you want to join the vineyard part of your wine-tasting tour. While fascinating and gorgeous to see, this will require you to protect your eyes with a reliable pair of sunglasses. Why miss out on the whole experience because your eyes must squint on a sunny day? A classy Summerwood frame from Foster Grant naturally fits into the vacation vibe, using polarized lenses to block glare and reduce eyestrain. These also come with 100% UVA and UVB protection, which should be a non-negotiable factor when choosing eyewear for outdoor engagements. 

If you want a pair, you can keep on when you go indoors, you can also go for self-tinting lenses. This will adequately protect your eyes from the sun and still be perfectly fine for dimmer settings. 

Stain remover for clothes

Don’t let a spill ruin your tour. Wine may be delicious, but it is also notorious for being an extremely troublesome stain to remove from fabric. The longer it is left to soak in any fibers, the harder it is to clean — especially if you’re wearing breathable, white clothes.

If you don’t want to worry about those accidental spills, bring a portable stain remover to blot out any stray droplets (or even splashes) of wine. The Tide To Go comes in a pen form that easily fits in any pocket or small bag and effectively removes fresh stains. Bring this for those quick spot-cleaning saves and sip in peace. 

Wine Carrier

Finishing a wine tour without ending up with a few bottles in tow is a challenge many travelers are unlikely to win. If you find a variant that strikes your fancy, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to treat yourself to a bottle you can take home. Do yourself a favor and bring a stylish wine carrier that you can sling on comfortably throughout the tour or keep in the back of your car to keep those precious bottles from breaking or rolling around on the way home. 

When it comes to what to bring to a wine tasting, meori has you covered. meori reusable wine carriers are built specifically for this purpose, so the padding and reinforced stitching are better than a regular tote for protecting your precious cargo. You may even want to go for an insulated wine tote to preserve your vino’s temperature (in case you want to have a few glasses on the go) or bring along a nine-bottle carrier or even a 12 bottle wine carrier (holds a case) if you’re planning to gift bottles when you get back home.

Check out the rest of our super-durable wine carriers at meori today.