A must-have experience in Italy is to go to a vineyard. To bask in its natural glory under the sun, to drink its immaculate wine, and to soak up the rustic rural culture that this country offers. It's become a dreamy and somewhat cinematic staple when traveling to Italy and you won't want to miss it when you're here. However, when you actually do get to a vineyard in Italy, you might easily get overwhelmed and not know what to do. How do you behave in one? What should you do in one? Here's what you need to know.
Remember that vineyards are often large estates found within the vast expanses of Italy's countryside. If you're not careful, you can easily get lost on your way to any one of them. A standard paper map isn't enough to help you get to one in this day and age. Fortunately, you can download a transportation app to assist you along the way. Beyond the more common ride-hailing programs that let you book a ride, there are also journey-planning apps that show all sorts of information on where and how to go to a vineyard. Not to mention the GPS programs that show you all the different routes that lead to your destination.
Wear Light and Comfortable Clothing
As much as you'd look amazing in a designer suit or even a couture gown amidst the backdrop of an Italian vineyard, these aren't the right clothes to wear when you go to one. Despite their romantic appeals. vineyards are wide open spaces where the sun shines down on your all day long. You're better off wearing
light Italian staples like a nice button-down, a cotton dress, linen separates, or even a flowing maxi dress. For guys, it's all about the fitted tees, the crisp white shirts, and the comfy chinos. As for footwear, the more comfortable, the better. Don't forget that you'll be walking a lot in a vineyard.
Learn How To Sip and Spit
In an ordinary setting, this may sound gross. But in a vineyard, sipping and spitting are par for the course. Most wineries in Italy offer wine-tasting sessions. In fact, they're often the highlight of a vineyard visit. It's only natural that after touring these large and luscious estates, you get to sample the products that they make. However, since these are alcoholic drinks, it's likely that you'll get intoxicated after testing more than a few wines. That's why, instead of swallowing after you sip, you spit it right back out. Don't just avoid the wine samples altogether either.
Italian customs dictate that it's commonly rude to refuse anything offered to you here.
Book A Night's Stay
One of the great things about how various Italian vineyards adapted to the modern world these days is that many of them have set up their own accommodations. Be that rental villas and rooms to downright luxury hotels and resorts, many vineyards offer you to stay at their place while you're there. So to make it easier for you, book a night or two with them. There's a good chance that one day isn't enough to tour the entire vineyard. If you truly want to see every nook and cranny of an authentic Italian winery, you'd do well to book a stay and spend each day exploring.
Don't Be Afraid to Explore
It truly can't be stressed enough how you ought to explore the vineyards when you get the chance to visit one. Many of them contain hundreds, even thousands of acres in total. With so much space to cover, it's only natural that you get to wander off and see the natural beauty they offer. Sure, perhaps it's the guided tour or the wine-tasting that you're most excited about—especially if you're a wine connoisseur—but if given a chance to explore these man-made marvels, take it! You never know when you'll get to visit an Italian vineyard again!
Interact With Others
Part of the experience of visiting an Italian vineyard is interacting with others. For example, if you think the tour guides will get annoyed if you ask a lot of questions about the place, think again! Most guides in vineyards actually enjoy talking to visitors, letting them know all about the history and heritage of the wineries. So if you have a question, don't be afraid to ask them. Furthermore, If you're on a tour with other people, be sociable. Talk to them, make friends with them, or, at the very least, exchange greetings before and after the tour.
Going to a vineyard may seem so glamorous and exotic, but if you make a mistake, you risk embarrassing yourself and, as a result, ruin your trip in the process. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you? Of course, not! So to avoid all that, follow these tips!
Another great tip is to get a
luxury home near any of the beautiful vineyards in Italy so that you won't have to travel too far to get to one.
