Long Island Vineyards - Know Before you Go...

Now that you have made your final decision on which Long Island Vineyard to visit, there are a few things that you need to know before you go. The key to finding the best tasting wines is to sample a variety of wines. Visiting a Long Island Vineyard will give you the opportunity to accomplish that. The following are a few good tips to remember before going to a Vineyard:

• Make sure you are well hydrated. Pack a bottle of water with you on your trip to the vineyard. You not only use it to stay hydrated, you will also use it to balance the alcohol.

• Never attend a wine tasting on an empty stomach. Eat a full meal before going.  If the vineyard provides food to guest, take full advantage of it. Food will also help balance your levels.

• Arrive early as possible. Consider getting a VIP pass that allows you to attend before the huge crowd. When you arrive early, you can get a chance to explore the aisle and taste a variety of wines.  If you arrive late and near closing time, you won’t have a chance to explore the vineyard. Some tasting rooms close 15 minutes before closing time.

• Avoid drinking full glasses of wine. Although it may be tempting to drink full glasses of wine, you will want to avoid doing this. To sample wines, pour a very small amount. You don’t have to drink all of it, just drink enough to taste.

• Begin your wine tasting with the bubblies and white wines, then work your way to the red wines. You can also try the dry wines first and then go to the sweet wines.

• If you feel a little tipsy, just take a small break. Then eat some food and drink water in between.  This will help you remain balanced and help you to avoid getting drunk.

Want to become a wine tasting pro?

Take notes of your favorite wine. You will also want to bring along your camera or simply use your camera phone to take photos. Many Long Island Vineyards give daily tours; this is a great opportunity to take photos. Before taking photos, make sure that you confirm that the winery allows photo taking. Some vineyards have a strict rule against taking photos; you’ll want to respect their policy.

When attending a Long Island Vineyard, you will more than likely handle several items at one time such as your wine glass, plate of food and camera. One trick to try is wearing a small wine glass necklace – just make sure you wear dark colored clothing to hide the wetness from the wine.

Lastly, make sure you pack lightly during your trip to Long Island Wine County. Bring along bottled water to drink in between the wine tasting. Also, take advantage of eating food that is often provided to go along with the wine. Remember; don’t neglect eating breakfast before going to a Long Island vineyard. If you need a great place to stay on your visit to the Long Island Wine Country then be sure to check out our Long Island Wine Country Hotel. Enjoy!