profile

Wine Travelista

Hi! I'm Laura, your go-to source for all things wine and wanderlust. Whether you're a wine newbie or a seasoned pro, I'm here to help you experience the same joy and education that wine country travel has brought me. From wine travel basics to wine region guides to done-for-you itineraries, I make planning a wine tasting trip simple…and fun!

A group of women wearing sun hats embroidered with their names facing a green vineyard with a winery building in the background.
Featured Post

👯‍♀️ Your next group wine getaway

Hi Reader, Most of my wine trips are pretty low-key. Usually just me and my husband, or maybe one or two friends. Once the group gets bigger than that, things can get chaotic fast. Suddenly, you’re coordinating reservations for eight people, someone’s always running late, and no one can agree on brunch. 🤷♀️ But I have learned there are some wine destinations that make group trips way easier than others. The best ones have things like walkable tasting rooms, wine shuttles, great restaurants,...

Hi Reader, For something that’s basically just drinking wine, getting dressed for a wine tasting can feel surprisingly complicated. Somewhere between “cute wine country outfit” and “practical for a walk in the vineyard,” things can spiral quickly. Suddenly it turns into this: …pull an outfit out of the closet…try it on…decide it’s too dressy…change outfits three more times…wonder if sneakers are acceptable…question every shoe choice you own…give up and put the first outfit back on…leave...

Hi Reader, Remember I mentioned that island I went to that…ran out of wine? 🍷❌😱 The one that basically shuts down from October to April? Well, that’s Korčula. To be fair, I was already going to be in Croatia, so I didn’t exactly have a choice on timing. But honestly, it was kind of nice feeling like I had the place to myself. If you’re not familiar with it, Korčula is a small island just off Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. It’s known for its walled Old Town, which reminded me of a mini Dubrovnik....

Hi Reader, Ever start planning a wine trip…only to get overwhelmed 5 minutes in trying to choose between 100+ wineries? It’s tempting to just pick a few of the most popular ones and call it a day. But that’s how you end up somewhere that looks great on Instagram…and feels more like a party bus stop 🪩🚌 than a wine experience. No judgment if that’s your thing (I’m not above a good rosé slushy 🍧). But if you’re looking for a trip that actually feels like you, here’s how I narrow it down. 🍷 Know...

Hi Reader, I still remember planning my first real wine trip. I had no idea how many wineries to visit in a day, whether I needed reservations, or if I was about to embarrass myself by confidently mispronouncing something in French. I definitely overthought it. 🤯 Spoiler: it was completely fine. No one quizzed me. No one revoked my wine privileges. And I quickly realized wine travel isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about choosing a place that makes it easy to learn as you go. If you’re...

Hi Reader, After planning a lot of wine trips, a pattern started to jump out at me. The trips that felt relaxed and fun weren’t always the fanciest. They were the ones where the place we stayed actually fit the way we wanted to travel. There isn’t one best place to stay in wine country. It really comes down to how you want the trip to feel. A romantic weekend, a family trip, and a friends getaway all call for very different places to stay, even in the same region. Here’s a breakdown of the...

Hi Reader, Spring might be my favorite season for wine travel. The vineyards are waking up, flowers are in bloom, and many wine regions feel calmer before summer crowds roll in. It’s also one of the best times to visit places that get hot later in the year. 🥵 If you’re planning an April or May trip, these five wine destinations are especially good picks right now. 🌼 Fredericksburg, TexasSpring in Fredericksburg means bluebonnets everywhere, comfortable temps, and wine tasting before the Texas...

Hi Reader, I often get asked, “How do you manage to travel so much?” Yes, being a wine and travel writer helps. But let’s be honest, those flights, hotels, and wine tasting fees add up fast. My not-so-secret secret? Credit card points and miles. 🤫💳 I’m not talking about saving $50 here and there. I’m talking about cutting thousands off my travel costs. And making the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Like… ✈️ Upgraded flights. 🌟 Lounge access. 🥂 Champagne at 30,000 feet. Which is why I...

Hi Reader, I didn’t expect Dubrovnik to live rent-free in my head after I left… but here we are. 😅 It ended up being one of my favorite stops in Croatia. For my Game of Thrones fans, you know this walled city as King’s Landing. 🐉 Walking the city walls, eating my way through all the seafood, and wandering the lamplit streets at night felt pretty magical. ✨ I kept expecting Tyrion to appear with a goblet of wine and a sarcastic comment. 🍷 Even better, Dubrovnik is only a little over an hour...

Hi Reader, Can I tell you one thing I’ve learned from planning a lot of wine trips? It’s not about booking early. It’s about booking the right thing early. Because in wine country, it’s not always flights that disappear first. Sometimes it’s the luxury winery retreat. Sometimes it’s the appointment-only tasting. Sometimes it’s the dinner reservation everyone else is trying to snag. 😬 So before you click “purchase,” here’s how I figure out what to book first. ✈️ Let’s Talk Flights Flights are...