Drinking and Driving

Now let's be honest--people come up to wine country primarily to taste wines. And wine+driving can definitely be a issue. Most wineries will have you sampling approximately 0.5oz of 4-6 different wines. So you'll be drinking about 3oz of wine (about 1 glass) at each winery. Don't let this stop you from tasting, however. It just means that you need to have a more deliberately planned trip that includes some time between winery visits to 'sober up'. Here are some tips to help you make it through a day of wine tasting:

1. Spend at least 1 hour at each winery. There's no need to rush through the tasting menu just to fit additional stops into your schedule. Take a walk outside the tasting room and enjoy the scenery. Mill Creek Winery, for example, has an idyllic outside seating area that's perfect for relaxing. The more time you take, the less tipsy you'll feel.
2. Take advantage of the water provided by the tasting room. Don't worry that you look like an amateur if you pour yourself a glass of water--that's what the professionals do to prolong their tasting day
3. Pour it out! Pretty much every tasting room has a jug to help you dispose of unfinished wine. If you're served a wine not to your liking, you don't need to drink the whole thing. Preserve your alcohol intake for the wines you actually enjoy!
4. Nothing goes better with wine than cheese and crackers! Pick some up at a local store and layer your tastings with cheese nibblings.