Many of our guests ask us about what kind of attire is appropriate for a wine tour. Here are some basics we’ve picked up over the years.
Shoes
We recommend wearing what you’re most comfortable in. A lot of folks on wine tours wear nice sneakers, espadrilles, casual loafers, or driving moccasins. These will all feel perfectly in place in wine country.
While some folks do wear more dressy shoes and occasionally heels, visitors should be aware that the setting of many vineyards is very rustic, which can entail both deep soft soil and pea gravel paths. These can be a bit unsteady for some visitors, and the pea gravel in particular can be damaging for leather soled shoes. If guests wish to wear more formal shoes, or shoes with heels, following the suggestions for a setting such as an outdoor wedding ceremony may be helpful. If heels are worn, try to select a lower heel height, a wider heel base, and consider wedges. Paved paths are in place at some venues, but are not a guarantee.
Those who anticipate touring the agricultural grounds of a vineyard on foot after a tasting should particularly attend to ensuring that their footwear will be appropriately stable for these settings, even after a glass or two of sumptuous California wine. You might want not only a flat shoe, but also one with some texture on the sole. Keeping stability in mind is helpful for these landscapes.
Because rustic wine country paths can also be dusty in dry weather and muddy in our rare wet weather, be thoughtful about selecting footwear with a delicate finish that can be easily damaged, or about selecting open-toed shoes or sandals. Save delicately finished patent or kid leathers for excursions in town.Temperature
California is known for its sunny climate and warm weather. However, visitors should be aware that the temperature in wine country often fluctuates as much as 40 degrees in a single day at a single location. As I write this, I’m recalling a day recently where the low was 41°F and the high was 80°F – a common occurrence in winter. And in summer, the range can be even greater, so layers are essential year round.
And be prepared for it to fluctuate as much as 60 degrees, particularly when a tour visits both higher and lower altitude destinations; wine country is a labyrinth of microclimates. Higher elevations can be cooler, and some valleys can capture heat. We strongly recommend wearing comfortable layers that can be shed during mid day – a cashmere sweater or cardigan is a great bet due to the lightness and warmth of that material.
If you plan to be spending time outside, we also suggest bringing plenty of sun protection. California’s bright, arid skies can affect skin quickly, and may catch guests from more cloudy regions unaware. A brimmed hat, sunscreen, and a light shirt that will cover your shoulders and upper arms are all appropriate precautions. We suggest selecting topical sun protections that have minimal fragrance, so the aroma doesn’t interfere with your palate during your tasting.
Style
It’s not at all unusual to see a range of nice but casual attire during the day – boho, resort, and classic prep styles are all pretty common. We’ll publish a few seasonal guides each year detailing both universal and trending pieces that work well with the weather here, especially with the non local traveller in mind – look for our winter, bud break, summer, and harvest guides on the blog!
