Planning to road trip your way around the US – or at least part of it – to indulge your love of wine? It’s a common bucket list entry for many wine lovers, what with the US having quite the unique wine industry to explore!
From Napa Valley to Seneca Lake, you can cross the US and stop off at 100+ wineries for tours and excursions.
But seeing as drinking and driving should never mix, you do have to be very careful about the itinerary you come up with. If you’re going to be behind the wheel at any point, you need to be aware of your sobriety – even if you think you’re feeling OK.
As such, here are a few safe driving tips for anyone looking to both sample vino and travel by road.
Visit One Winery a Day
If you’re driving yourself, or you and your partner are taking it in turns (but neither wants to be the designated driver), it’s best to only visit one winery per day.
When there’s only one stop on the tour, you can take your time around it, make more of a day of it, and you’re not placing more risks by having to rush from one winery to another.
You’ll actually have the time to slow down, let yourself recover from the alcohol, and then get back on the road.
Stay Nearby, Then Hire Transport
If you can, book accommodation as close to the winery as possible. Get a hotel room, RV park or campsite, or a private rental that allows you to be no more than 20 or so miles out.
This way you can reliably park the car, know you have somewhere safe to return to, and then book another form of transport to and from the winery.
The winery itself may even offer transport back and forth as part of its tour package, but you’ll have to double check this with each one before you go.
Otherwise you may need to book an Uber or grab a taxi, or even hire someone to drive for you. That’s a little bit of luxury that goes a long way!
Take Frequent Breaks
By this we mean breaking up the winery spots on your trip with the occasional day in between. You don’t have to do this every time, if you’re keen to fit as many wineries into the plan as possible, but it’s something to do at least once on the journey.
With a break that lets you get away from the grapes and tipples, you can safely drive as much as you like without worrying about how many sips you’ve had.
And that can very much remove the pressure and tension from a trip like this. It’s nice to be able to get into the driver’s seat and know that just this once, you won’t have to slow down the pace of your trip!
Driving your way around US wineries? Take your time and don’t take risks!
