Oh, what we wouldn’t do to be relaxing on the patio of a winery, sipping wine and taking in the view. Wine tasting rooms across California have been closed due to social distancing and stay at home orders but there’s a way for you to experience these wineries virtually in the meantime. A bunch of wineries throughout Northern California have shifted to virtual wine tastings so you can sample a variety of wines from the comfort of your home. Some of these experiences even incorporate an interactive element, so the only thing you’ll be missing about this tasting experience is the winery itself.
Have you been dreaming of the day that you can start visiting our Northern California wineries once again? We sure have! The good news is that several wineries have shifted to virtual wine tastings and it may just scratch that itch for a wine country experience.
Since stay at home orders have been enacted, winemakers all across the state have started to explore ways to bring their wines TO the customer, instead of the customer coming to them. The result is a virtual tasting experience that is the next best thing to actually visiting a vineyard.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to roam through the vineyard and you'll have to pour the wine yourself (hey, that can be a good thing!), but a virtual wine tasting is a great way to get to know a winery's selection from the comfort of your home.
So, what exactly is a virtual tasting? It depends on which winery you decide on. Each experience will be slightly different, but most winery's have gone with a system that involves purchasing an assortment of pre-selected wine which will be shipped directly to your door.
Depending on the winery you select, this virtual experience may even include a private tasting session via webcam with a wine expert. Some wineries have gone as far as to offer group tastings like you'd experience in person. Either way, this is a fantastic way to learn about California wines from an expert!
The list of wineries and vineyards that are participating in virtual experiences is actually very long. Wineries from all over NorCal in places Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties have come up with their own unique way of bringing their wines to you during the shutdown. You can see a full list of more than 45 participating wineries here.
Let's be real, nothing can truly replace the magic of visiting a winery in person, walking among the rows of grapevines, and enjoying a glass of wine amid the astounding scenery. But in the meantime, these virtual wine tastings will do just fine!
What do you think? Would you be interested in taking on a virtual wine tasting? This could definitely be a fun way to support your local winery while stay at home orders are in effect.
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