We’re in midst of one of the most important times of the year for the wine industry: crush season. Now, the bad news is that it’s also one of the busiest times to visit, but here’s how you can still get those special experiences.
Crush season is when grapes are picked, crushed and stored in barrels. The season falls between August and November, depending on the location, the type of grape, and weather patterns.
So the trick to really enjoying yourself even in this busy period is to look for experiences that go beyond the tasting room. After all, why would you want to be stuck indoors with the rest of the herd?
If you want to get an even more unique experience, try heading to a lesser-known wine country. For example in California’s Central Valley, the Paso Robles Harvest Wine includes hands-on blending seminars and a two-ton grape stomp.
A little further south, the even lesser-known Temecula wine region celebrates into November, when it holds its annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. That means you literally get to sample wines straight from the barrel that aren’t available to the public.
And how about…Texas? That’s right, Texas Hill Country actually has 27 wineries and celebrates its harvest season through the entire month of October.
Bottom line: Even traveling in the high season doesn’t mean you have to follow the crowds.
Find more great ideas in the Culinary Travel section.
