Guide to Wine Tasting Getaways:

WHERE TO GO:  Lucky for you, there are hundreds of wineries located throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. To simplify the process, you could choose a destination based on which wines you like and where those grapes are grown. For example, six varieties of wine grapes grow well on Cape Cod; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Seyval and Vidal. In the Finger Lakes region of New York State, you can find everything from Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Vignoles in the white category, and Meritage, Merlot, and Pinot Noir in the red.

Wineries and vineyards can be found even in smaller states like Delaware, which boasts the Nassau Valley Vineyard in Lewes, a farm winery which grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Even in the colder climates of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, wines often offer the pleasing variety of ice wines and fruit wines, such as the pear wine produced by North River Winery in Jacksonville, VT.

When should you head out? While some of the larger wineries are open year-round to offer tastings and sales, most open in late spring through late fall. Summer weekends are great for taking advantage of special events taking place at the vineyards, like outdoor concerts. Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, RI, offers a jazz concert series from Memorial Day weekend to the end of October. To see the grapes plump on the vine at Auburn Road Vineyard in Pilesgrove, NJ, plan to head out before the September harvest. Or, consider fall foliage drives through the Vermont countryside as an added experience to your trip in early October.

Once the “where” and “when” have been determined, think about creating an itinerary that not only includes visits to wineries, but other outdoorsy or culinary activities related to your love of wine. First, winery tours can be a brief walk-through or an involved, hands-on experience, so plan at least an hour for each. Local tourism bureaus, as well as groups of wineries, have created wine trails with detailed driving maps that will show you the way. Some of these include the trail in Bucks County, PA; the Monticello Wine Trail in Virginia; and the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Another option is to plan your trip around a big wine or culinary event, like the annual Great Grapes! Wine, Arts & Food Festival near Baltimore in Cockeysville, MD. These types of festivals give you a one-stop-shopping experience, with access to scores of independent wineries from the surrounding regions, as well as fine gourmet food vendors and chef appearances. You can also check the local tourism bureau’s web site for recommendations on fine restaurants that serve local vintages, and culinary sites to visit, like the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY or the Central Market in Lancaster, PA, the country's oldest publicly owned farmers' market.

Planning a getaway is half the fun, but can also be time-consuming. There are several companies out there who will gladly do the work for you, including tour operators offering pre-scheduled itineraries or travel agents who’ll create personally customized trips for you. Check out the Shawangunk Wine Trail Event Packages offered by Exclusive Wine Vacations, or the day trips offered by Long Island Wine Country which include a wine blending course.

DID YOU KNOW:  The first commercial wine vintage in the United States took place in 1829 at what is now the Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY. The Hudson River Valley was designated as an AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 1982.

TIPS:  Getting Your Bottle of Wine Home Safely:

Have the winery ship them directly to your home (this is legal to and from certain states only).

Keep the bottles cool by keeping them out of direct sunlight, and ideally in a cooler.

Store bottles sideways to keep the corks moist.

Bring your own supply of bubble wrap or towels to wrap them in so they don’t move around.

Carry bottled in a sealed plastic bin in case a bottle does break.

Don’t pack anything on top of the storage case.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
American Institute of Wine & Food: www.aiwf.org
National Association of American Wineries: www.wineamerica.org