Hi All!
I know there are several other threads on here about travel to California wine country, but if there is one specific to this topic please point the way.
My SO and I just confirmed travel dates to Sonoma in October of this year (we were waiting for the Harvest Fair to announce its dates). And now that airfare, car, and AirBnBs are secured, I have started to look at wineries and restaurants. HOLY COW, the tasting landscape seems to have changed drastically in the last few years. I was there last in 2017, and it seems like everywhere I look the tasting fees have tripled. Due to Covid and other factors I’m sure, almost all tastings that I’m finding are seated, ticketed, non-splittable, and reservations required.
My budget will simply not last at a burn-rate of $120 per couple for a tasting x ~4 wineries in a day. No money left to buy anything!
So we are looking for the deals, the tucked away places that are still reasonable. The places that take walk-ins or allow picnic lunches. We are also hoping to set-up a few tastings through our trade friends or through personal connections I have with a few spots. Good cheaper restaurant recommendations are also greatly appreciated. Even Taylor’s Auto-Refresher is now some new place with fancier food charging a boatload.
Please help a fellow wine geek stretch his meager budget