Are you traveling to turkey dinner this year? If you are, I have a few tips for arriving safe and sound to your destination....and having some fun with wine on the way there!
1. Planning ahead: check out your route online and see if there are any wineries along or near your route. Be sure to find out the hours of operations too. Most states have tourism listings with wineries - just google the state(s) your traveling through. Missouri has a great site complete with a trip planner that you can find here. There is also a MO winery app for your smart phone that you can download before you leave.
2.Bring snacks! This is especially good for the drive to your Thanksgiving destination. Nuts, crackers, granola....anything that travels easily. Plan to buy perishables like cheese & sausage at the winery or a local grocery store. You might end up finding some cool locally-made foods this way too.
3.Bring water! Staying hydrated is important for life in general, but especially important when you are traveling and planning on drinking wine. The rule of thumb I don't live by but should, is to drink at least one full glass of water for every glass (no more than two) of wine that you drink. So if you've sampled about 5 wines at a winery, you'll definitely want to sip some water before moving onto the next stop.
4. Add in extra time to enjoy your journey. Clyde and I rarely go to more than 3 wineries on any one day. You want to sit and enjoy the atmosphere, have plenty of time to savor the flavors at the places you visit and make a few memories. You can't do that when you're in a mad rush to get from one place to the next on tight deadlines. Thanksgiving day will come with it's own stress - you might as well take some time to stop and smell the rose while you are on your way to or from the big dinner. Add an extra hour or even another day so that you can relax!
5.Take turkey dinner leftovers to the wineries for a little picnic. Find out exactly which wine will pair well with next year's dinner while you support the local economy!
6.Bring your camera & a fun prop. An empty picture frame, a toy, or even just plan to do the same goofy pose at each stop. You'll remember that year as the "fish face" turkey day, or the "planking" turkey day...whatever you choose, talk with the winery staff to find out the best spots on the property to take a few pictures.
7.Talk to fellow wine questers at the wineries you visit. You'll meet some neat people, find out great travel tips, and you never know what will happen! If you're stumped on how to start a conversation, here are a few sure-fire openers:
"So what was your favorite wine on the list here?"
"What other wineries have you been to / Where else are you headed to today?"
"Is that a bottle in your pocket, or are you just ...." Hmm...well, you might not want to use this one. :)
Speaking of which, if you do happen to be stuck in a conversation you want out of, think of these chickens:
Where ever you head out to for your Thanksgiving, be safe and have a great time!
Happy Trills,
Katie
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