What to wear in Wine Country
I love wine tasting in the fall. It’s crush season and it’s a special time of year for the wine country community. It’s exciting for winemakers and wine drinkers! (like me) When I plan a wine tasting trip one of the first things I ask myself is “What am I going to wear?” Obviously I want to look cute but ultimately choosing the proper wine tasting attire has more to do with climate and function rather than a need for formality. I like to call my outfits wine country casual, and wearing comfortable shoes is a must. In this post, I’ve listed a few ideas from my own wine tasting experiences.
Crush Season
People love to travel to the wine country during the fall for vacations and crush season. It’s a fun activity to take part in. This is when the grapes are ripe and ready to be picked. Many wineries open this up to the public and let you stomp their grapes. Just keep in mind what you wear to stomp might get some stains, so be careful. You don’t want to mess up your new wine tasting outfit!
Crush season is usually in September and October. Depending on what region you’re visiting makes a big difference in what you should wear to taste. No matter where I am or what the weather is, I always want to feel good about my outfit and be comfortable.
I’ve been to Napa Valley in the spring, summer, and fall! I have also been to Walla Walla WA, Lake Chelan, and Yakima Valley. This is what I would recommend for an outfit during each season based on my wine tasting experience.
Wine Tasting in the Spring
Spring, in most wine regions, is still quite chilly in the mornings and evenings and can be pretty nice during the day. Make sure you layer up so you can stay comfortable while the temperatures change. A pair of white capri pants and a lightweight spring blouse would be perfect, then add a fun jacket or a scarf to wear when the temperature gets cooler.
What to wear wine tasting in the Summer
The summer in wine country can get warm, I wouldn’t worry about layering too much during this season. A comfortable romper, a flowy sundress, or a cute maxi dress would be perfect. If you tend to be chilly or if you go on a wine tour you might want to bring a light sweater or a scarf. Wine tours tend to take you down to the cellar where it is cooler.
What to wear wine tasting in the Fall
I would definitely wear a sweater while wine tasting in the fall. There are so many cute sweaters out right now, why wouldn’t you? Paired with some distressed skinny jeans, and boots you are all set. The sweaters and boots that are out right now are to die for!! Add a cozy scarf for some extra warmth. It might warm up some in the afternoon but you can’t go wrong with a scarf.
Shoes to wear
Sensible shoes might not be wine tasting’s hottest trend but believe me, you will want comfortable footwear. They can still be cute but there is a lot of walking and standing while you taste. If you do prefer to wear heels, at least make sure they’re wide enough to handle walking in dirt or grass, and unstable ground. Maybe go for a nice wedge, I have found that they work pretty well for wine tasting.
Some wineries have stable ground, but many will have their tastings in the vineyard or on a cobblestone patio. Step easy, the ground seems to get more unstable as the day goes on… 😉 I advise that wearing high heels is not the best route.
Wine tasting accessories
A few other things you might want to bring along on your wine tasting tour would be a denim jacket, sun hat, sunglasses, and a crossbody handbag. It’s always nice to have a jacket just in case. A lot of wineries have picnic areas where you can sit outside and taste while enjoying the view. In that case, you don’t want to forget a sun hat and sunglasses, make sure to apply sunscreen to exposed skin so you don’t get burned, that is clearly a must. Also, I recommend having a small handbag or crossbody bag, so you don’t have to worry about lugging a big purse around.
Wine tasting can be such a fun and social event. The first time I went to a tasting room I didn’t realize how important an outfit can be! Everyone was dressed adorably, which made sense, it’s a great reason to get out of your yoga pants and a great photo opportunity! But also remember to stick to wine tasting attire that won’t make you spend the afternoon worrying about a spill or stain on your new white pants.
The wine tasting experience is not something to rush. Don’t try to hit 10 wineries in one day! I would say 5 is the maximum and sometimes that is pushing it. Know your limit! Having a driver is also a smart decision. Remember, have fun and be safe. XOXO
I hope this post was helpful to you. I would love to hear about your wine tasting experience as well and what cute outfit you wore.
Cheers, Stephanie
If you like this post you may also like my post on Wine Tasting in Walla Walla WA https://home-has-my-heart.com/wine-tasting-in-walla-walla/