How to Enjoy a Trip to Famous Vineyards With Children and Teetotalers
Vineyards can be a beautiful weekend retreat. A chance to spend a night or two surrounded by the glories of nature embalms us from the nasty stressors of daily life.
Wine tourism has become a delightful contributor to the global economy, from France’s family-owned estates to Maharashtra’s local wineries. Statista reports that Portugal is the leader here, followed, surprisingly, by Europe’s tiny Moldova.
More families and friend groups now consider trips to vineyards as viable options for mini-holidays, returning rejuvenated and relaxed. But what happens if some people in the group have small children or don’t drink alcohol? It might seem like a dampener, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the trip even so.
1. Book Ahead for Food and Drinks Options
When you say vacation, a lot of people hear food and drink. Gastronomic pleasures are crucial for holidaying. You can experience new flavors that tantalize your taste buds, but you need not complete any chores, like cleaning up or washing the dishes!
In this sense, vineyards can paint a sullen picture for children and those who don’t (or can’t) drink alcohol. Is all they will get sparkling water, grapes, and cheese?
Indeed, varieties of wine and tastefully created cheese platters are the highlights of many famous vineyards. There exist elaborate rules and guidelines for pairing wine and cheese. Real Simple recommends pairing blue cheese with a sweet Port or a dessert wine. Now imagine the scenario for a teetotaller who is also lactose intolerant. It is abysmal.
Avoid this situation by booking ahead and requesting non-alcoholic drink options that are not grape juice. Think infused water and iced teas—perfect for balmy evenings. Ginger beer is fabulous for anyone who has ever lost themselves in Enid Blyton’s books.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could consider keeping a surprise alcohol-free wine under wraps for the non-drinking grown-up guests. Even Bordeaux, France’s legendary vineyards, now has a shop dedicated to non-alcoholic wines. The BBC reports that changing lifestyle habits and a fall in domestic wine consumption are driving groundbreaking events like this.
Food-wise, ensure that the vineyard offers meals that suit vegetarians and vegans. You should also check that the kids will find some “safe” items, such as standard sandwiches and fruit platters.
Upon request, some spots will provide meals to accommodate specific allergies, such as dairy or nuts. (Otherwise, you can bring eatables from home to keep hunger-induced crankiness away.)
2. Offer Everyone Perspective, From Up Above
Vineyards can be stunningly beautiful. All those grape plants, the acres of fertile land, golden sunshine that is required for ripening the fruits. Sometimes, the best way to experience this beauty is through a new perspective: a view from up above.
For example, some providers in California offer hot air balloon rides over legendary vineyards. You can observe the expanse of greens and reds from the skies, riding gently on your holiday mood.
According to Balloons Above the Valley, these trips can be ideal for both nature lovers and wine enthusiasts, as you get a bird’s-eye view of the entire landscape. Children, in particular, are likely to love the feeling of flying. No one needs wine to enjoy the headiness of being high above the whole world.
Do note that the landscape-watching you get to do will change with the season. So, while deciding the best time to visit Sonoma Valley and other vineyards in the vicinity, assess your preferences. For instance, fall is the busiest season for vineyards in California. You can expect vibrant foliage and the gifts of the harvest, with flocks of visitors. Summer works best for activities like kayaking and cycling.
In general, winter has a more laid-back, quieter vibe that may resonate with those who want a more restful holiday. You may also find it comfortable to work around school holidays at this time.
3. Expand Your Itinerary
Your vacation may center around the vineyard and related activities, such as wine tasting and participating in blending sessions. However, when traveling with a group, a more varied itinerary can be helpful.
Fortunately, many vineyards have picked up on this requirement and arranged enjoyable activities for the whole family.
If you visit Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan, a beautiful region renowned for its wines, you can have a gala time plucking fruits. Tokyo Weekender reports that the fruit under the spotlight varies throughout the year, from strawberry picking in January to apples in December.
Further, kids can have a splendid time at Heidi’s Village, a recreation of the famous children’s story. The theme park has merchandise, goats, cheese fondue—what’s not to love?
Another idea is to include local attractions in your schedule, like museums and art galleries, or urban delights like shopping malls. Everyone is happier when they know they have something to look forward to just for themselves.
Here are some more ideas to include in your vineyard vacation itinerary:
- Grape stomping (the kids will love this)
- Petting zoos
- Kids play areas
- Non-alcoholic drinks making classes
Here’s hoping this got you excited about planning your next holiday! Life can be utterly chaotic these days, and every little chance to unwind is worth grabbing. Head out to a vineyard near you or splurge on an exotic one overseas to see nature’s bounty in all its vibrant colors.
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FAQs
How do you enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
The article’s core advice is to book ahead for food and drink options that suit everyone (vegetarian, vegan, and kid-friendly items like sandwiches and fruit platters), offer non-wine ways to enjoy the scenery such as a hot air balloon ride over the vineyards, and expand the itinerary with activities that aren’t centered on wine — like fruit picking, petting zoos, and local attractions.
What is the best way to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
According to the article, the best approach is planning ahead rather than assuming a vineyard trip only works for wine-focused adults — checking that meals accommodate dietary needs and allergies, adding a scenic experience like a hot air balloon ride so non-drinkers still get a memorable moment, and building in extra activities so kids and teetotalers have things to look forward to that aren’t just wine tastings.
What are practical tips to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
Practical tips from the article include booking food options in advance (vegetarian/vegan meals, kid-safe items like sandwiches and fruit platters, and allergy accommodations such as dairy- or nut-free meals on request), bringing food from home as a backup to avoid hunger-induced crankiness, and adding activities like grape stomping, petting zoos, kids’ play areas, and non-alcoholic drink-making classes.
What mistakes should beginners avoid when trying to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
The article implies the main mistake is assuming a vineyard trip has to revolve entirely around wine tastings — without planning ahead for food that suits kids and dietary restrictions, or without lining up non-wine activities, children and teetotalers in the group can end up bored or hungry rather than enjoying the trip.
What do you need to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
You need some advance planning: confirming the vineyard’s food options work for vegetarians, vegans, and kids, checking on allergy accommodations, and researching nearby extras — like fruit-picking seasons, themed attractions such as Heidi’s Village with its goats and cheese fondue, or local museums and shopping — to round out the trip beyond wine tasting.
Can you walk me through, step by step, how to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
The article lays it out in three steps: first, book ahead for food and drink options that suit everyone, including allergy-friendly meals or bringing food from home; second, offer a fresh perspective on the scenery for non-drinkers, such as a hot air balloon ride over the vineyard; and third, expand your itinerary with add-ons like fruit picking, grape stomping, petting zoos, kids’ play areas, or non-alcoholic drink-making classes.
What’s a realistic, tested approach to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers that actually works while traveling?
The article’s realistic approach is to not fight the vineyard-plus-family combo but plan around it: sort out food logistics in advance (including bringing snacks from home as a backup), give non-drinkers a highlight experience of their own like an aerial view via hot air balloon, and pad the schedule with kid-friendly or novelty activities such as grape stomping and petting zoos so the trip doesn’t hinge entirely on wine.
What do experienced travelers do differently to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
Per the article, the difference is in the extras: rather than treating the vineyard visit as the whole trip, experienced travelers build out the itinerary with nearby attractions — seasonal fruit picking, theme parks like Heidi’s Village, museums, art galleries, or shopping — so everyone in the group, not just the wine drinkers, has something to look forward to.
What tools, gear, or habits actually help when you’re trying to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
The article’s practical habits are: booking meals in advance rather than hoping the vineyard can accommodate on arrival, packing food from home as a backup for picky or hungry kids, and proactively researching add-on activities (grape stomping, petting zoos, non-alcoholic drink-making classes) rather than assuming the vineyard alone will keep everyone entertained.
What would you tell someone who’s struggling to enjoy a trip to famous vineyards with children and teetotalers?
The article’s message is reassuring: having small children or non-drinkers in the group doesn’t have to dampen a vineyard trip. With some advance planning around food, an alternative highlight experience like a hot air balloon ride, and a broader itinerary of family-friendly activities, a vineyard vacation can still be relaxing and rejuvenating for the whole group.
