There are travel routes to better organize the timing of your tour based on where you are staying, whether you are in South, Mid, or North Valley, as well as Sonoma.

There are four options for lunch: three at wineries and a fourth option at a local restaurant.

Options in wineries:

A picnic in the gardens of a winery, only some allow picnics.

A lunch in steps

Which consists of a meal of between 3 to 7 steps, although there are super gourmet proposals of up to 19 steps, (depending on the winery). Each step or dish is accompanied with a different wine specially selected by the winery's winemaker.

This is our favorite option since it allows you to access the knowledge of the local chefs and winemakers, who are responsible for putting together the menu of steps with the combination of the different dishes and wines from the winery's portfolio.

You will be able to get an insight into the quality of the winery's wines in lunch, but also a long and relaxed lunch, enjoying the views and gardens of the wineries.

Have lunch a la carte, some wineries offer this option, although they are not the majority.

A last option is lunch at a selected restaurant in the area. Mendoza has excellent and varied gastronomic proposals, the choice depends entirely on you and you will make all the arrangements according to your preferences.

No more than three to four wineries with lunch for 6-8 hours is optimal, depending on the winery experience. Some visitors may try to visit too many wineries only to feel burned out and rushed without fully enjoying their experience (and sometimes not feeling so well).

I will provide water and some cooler storage during your experience, as well as umbrellas if needed. I do recommend bringing a jacket/sweater along for times when you might be in a cave or cellar tasting as these areas can be cool even in mid-summer.

A winery tour is typically a 60-90 minute walk-thru of vineyards, and caves and can include personal visits with winemakers/owners. Your host will explain almost anything you want to know about farming and wine-making. This includes tastings during or at the end of this type of unique experience. Sometimes, these tours are done in groups at the more famous wineries.

Standing or Seated Wine tastings are a great alternative to the tour & tasting and may last closer to an hour. The fees range from $40 - $100+ depending on the winery. Some wineries are very busy, lively, and noisy. Often, wineries can offer a more private experience including sit-down/food pairing. Winery visits typically require a reservation, prepaid by credit card.

Most wineries charge fees from $40 and up per person and will typically waive the fee if you purchase a minimum amount, or if you sign up for their wine club. Considering the tasting costs per person, this can add up (you can sometimes share a tasting).