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Hi Reader,

Let’s be real.

Wine country trips can add up fast.

Between tasting fees, bottles you just have to bring home, and maybe a cheese plate (or three), your budget can disappear faster than a chilled rosé on a hot day.

You might know the usual money-savers like tasting passports or case discounts.

But today, I'm spilling some of the lesser-known ones I’ve learned after years of visiting wine regions.

🏨 Check Hotel Perks First​
Before you even start mapping out tastings, ask your hotel if they partner with wineries. You might get discounted or even free tastings. I once stayed at an inn that got me a VIP winery tour with barrel tastings for a fraction of the normal price.

💸 Target Wineries That Apply Fees Toward Purchases​
If you usually buy a few bottles when visiting a winery, look for spots that credit your tasting fee toward a purchase. It’s an easy way to make every dollar count.

🗺️ Choose a Regional Tasting Room
​Co-op or regional tasting rooms (like New York Kitchen in the Finger Lakes or Carlton Winemakers Studio in the Willamette Valley) let you sample wines from multiple producers under one roof. One fee = many wineries.

🍷 Skip the Glass, Keep the Savings​
Do you really need logo glass number 37 in your cupboard? (I know I don’t.) Some wineries add $5–10 for that souvenir stemware. If you don’t want it, just ask. Sometimes they’ll drop the fee.

🧺 Pack Your Own Picnic​
Food makes tastings even better, but winery add-ons can add up quickly. A stop at a local market for cheese, bread, and fruit can save money and give you plenty to snack on between sips. Just be sure to check that the winery allows outside food.

🍇 Go off the Beaten Path with Varieties​
At a tasting room I visited recently, their Chardonnays and Pinots were amazing. But the surprise star was an equally good Vermentino at half the price. Don’t skip the lesser-known varieties. They’re often the best deals on the list.

Use these tips, and you’ll sip smarter, spend less, and still bring home bottles you love.

👉 What’s your favorite hack for saving money in wine country?

Cheers,

Laura

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P.O. Box 44, Pinehurst, MA 01866
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