We’ve been conditioned to think that a night out on the town involves going to a bar. But for those of us who have been there and done that, the idea of fighting your way through a crowd to “belly up to the bar” becomes less and less appealing over time. Thankfully there is another option that is way better than going to a bar – visiting wineries.
It’s surprising how many wineries have sprung up over the last decade across the county, from Washington to Virginia, from Missouri to Colorado, to the renowned California. And these wineries are providing a much more well-rounded option to the tired old bars of the past. Below, we’ve listed the top seven reasons why wineries are better than bars.
1. You get more bang for the buck
Contrary to popular belief, visiting a winery for wine tasting can actually be very affordable, especially if you are visiting wineries outside of the popular Napa/Sonoma California region. We have even found some in that area at very reasonable prices as well. A typical winery will pour about 1/5 of a glass of wine for each tasting. Most wineries offer 5-7 tastings, so you basically get a full glass of wine at each tasting. Now here is the best part, most wineries will refund the tasting fee if you buy a bottle of their wine. And if you do a little research ahead of time, you will find wineries that charge either $5 or $10 fees (or maybe even free!) and/or sell bottles at about $20. Either way you look at it, you can end up paying about $10 per drink and getting a healthy variety of wines to try out. That beats a $10 draft beer offered at the bar any day!
2. You can actually meet other people
The atmosphere at wineries is better suited for mingling with people than the atmosphere at a bar. There is no loud music, there is no smoke-filled air and most are set up so that you are tasting side-by-side with strangers. The result: you get to know the people around you. We have met the most interesting people with the most fascinating stories at wineries. From a woman battling cancer to a saxophone-playing wine maker, to a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Somehow the close quarters and the experience of tasting the wine brings out the socialites in us all.
3. Single guys: this is where the women are
Remember that one guy who took Home Economics class in high school? The one that ignored the guys teasing him because he knew that the class was filled with girls…and being the only guy increased his odds of hooking up with one of them? This logic was, and still is, genius! And yet guys continue to go to bars to find women, when women are out at the wineries wine tasting. Bachelorette parties, girls outings, you name it! Women will find any excuse they can to drink a little wine with the girls. So listen up guys! You missed out on this once in high school…it’s time to redeem yourself and go where the women are.
4. It’s fun for singles AND couples
One of the best things about going to the wineries for wine tasting is that it is NOT a meat market. Even though it is a great place for guys to meet ladies, it is a more social atmosphere that lends itself to both singles and couples. And that means less awkwardness for a mixed groups of friends. Singles don’t feel like they are the “third wheel” and couples don’t feel like they’ve been subjected to a room full of “prowlers”. Wineries are the perfect place for both because it is more about the experience and mingling than about trolling for the next catch. Yet it does offer a tremendous opportunity to meet new people around you. Unlike bars, which tend to be more about dancing and drinking, wineries offer a chance to catch up with your friends or meet new ones. And the choice is up to you!
5. You get a taste of nature
A smoky room. The smell of stale beer. A floor that sticks to your shoes. That is what you will frequently find at your local bar. But at a winery you will often find a unique building or décor, clean tables and bars and the best part…the vineyards. Nearly every winery we have been to, whether large or small, offers some form of outdoor seating to allow you to experience and soak in the nature around you. You’ll often find picturesque views of rolling vineyards, the surrounding trees, neighboring mountains and various critters that make the area home. And if you do your research, you can even find some wineries that offer special event spaces, outdoor concerts or movies, picnic spaces and outdoor games such as bocce ball. More and more wineries are adding these extra outdoor amenities for their wine club members. Yet, even as a non-member, many of these amenities are offered at no charge. You won’t find any of that in a bar!
6. You get to savor the experience
With the exception of bars that have microbreweries, most bars don’t allow you to try out the variety of drinks they pour. The folks working the bar also don’t inform you about what you are drinking and how it is made. They simply pour the drink and move on to the next person (if they can hear your order over the music). But at a winery, you really get to understand “what the fuss is all about.” Wine pourers are trained to understand what makes each bottle of wine unique and explain how it’s made and what special elements add to the wine’s flavor. In addition to that, you can also learn how the wine is made. Many wineries offer tours of their facilities for free. Wine makers love to share their passion with the public and will often show you around the facility where the grapes are sorted, mixed and placed in barrels. They will explain how this process can even affect the taste of the wine. Bars are a place to go; wineries are an experience to have.
7. You can drink responsibly
Nowhere are you more able to drink responsibly than at wineries. There are an abundance of options available for you to visit wineries, partake in the drinks and stay off the roads. From winery tour busses to winery tour limos to even winery tour trains, most wine regions offer ways for you to get from winery to winery safely and responsibly. Most of these tours include wine tasting fees in their price and even give you extra perks from the wineries (such as extra wine pours or souvenir wine glasses). And for bars? Call a cab, wait an hour and hope you get home safe with a crazy driver.
7 Reasons Wineries are Better Than Bars
