​

Hi Reader,

When you're planning a wine trip, it's really easy to fill your itinerary with...wine.🍷

I mean, that's why you're going, right?

But if all you experience is the wineries, you're missing a big part of what makes wine travel so interesting.

The food people eat with the wine, the traditions around it, and what's grown alongside the grapes are all part of getting to know a region.

That's led to some pretty cool experiences on my own trips...

...Like watching freshly harvested Croatian olives being milled and tasting the oil right off the press.🫒

...Or discovering that New York Finger Lakes' local sweet corn makes surprisingly good ice cream.🍦🤯

So here are a few ways to experience more of the region between tastings.

🍽️ Learn the regional pairings

There's a reason they say "What grows together, goes together."

Before your trip, look up a couple of dishes the region is known for and make a point to try them with the local wine.

Think Sancerre with goat cheese, Albariño with seafood, or Sangiovese with bistecca alla fiorentina.

Pro tip: TasteAtlas is great for this. It maps traditional dishes by region, so you know what to look for before you go.

🍷 Drink local when you dine

When I'm choosing restaurants for my trip, I look for places with local producers on the wine list.

Dinner is a great chance to try wines from wineries you couldn't fit into your itinerary.

And ordering by the glass means you can sample a few without committing to a bottle.

Pro tip: At a winery, ask, “Where would you go for dinner if you wanted to drink local wine?” You may get a very different answer than if you just ask where you should eat.

🛒 Shop where the locals shop

Markets and grocery stores are one of my favorite ways to see what people actually eat and drink in a destination.

Look for local cheeses, bread, produce, olive oil, cured meats, or whatever else the region does particularly well.

And don't skip the wine aisle. It's always interesting to see which local bottles are everyday staples and how much they cost.

Pro tip: If you have a kitchen (or even just a good picnic spot), put together a meal with your finds and open one of the bottles you bought at a winery. It's also a nice break for your dining budget.

🧀 Explore what else the region produces

Wine regions are agricultural regions, so grapes are rarely the only thing being grown or made.

Depending on where you are, that might mean visiting an olive oil mill, stopping by a cheesemaker, or going on a truffle hunt.

And don't just look for tours. You might find food festivals, cooking classes, or other hands-on experiences tied to what the region produces.

Pro tip: Before your trip, search what's in season in the region, not just what foods it's known for year-round. You may find experiences that are only available for a few weeks.

Wine may be the reason for the trip, but it doesn't have to be the whole trip.

Eat what grows there, drink what the locals pour, and see what else the region makes. That's how you really get to know a wine region.

Cheers,

Laura

🧑‍🍳 Experiences I'm Loving ​These cooking classes in local homes

📚 Books I'm Reading ​This guide to unusual foods around the world

🎟️ Events I'm Eyeing ​Italy's truffle fairs and festivals this fall

P.O. Box 44, Pinehurst, MA 01866
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​