Wine country is probably one of my favorite places in the world and if I could be there every weekend, I would!  Although it may seem all about the fancy wine and gourmet food, when it comes down to it, it’s all about enjoying the fancy wine and gourmet food with people you love.  I feel so relaxed when I’m there and it feels like a world away from the SF Area.  I’m thinking about doing a Napa/Sonoma guide one of these days, would you guys be interested?!

Anyway, I was just there last weekend for my Mom’s birthday and one of the things I try to do when I’m there is to eat outside – picnic style – at a winery.  There are tons of wineries that allow you sit outside on their property with food and their wine.  I was only there for one day (WAH!) and couldn’t really do that this time around, so I felt like my wine country trip wasn’t complete.  In combination with that and how my BF and I are trying to be more creative with dates, I thought I could show you how I bring the whole wine country vibe home!

Although I highly recommend visiting one day (it’s life changing, I promise!!), you can enjoy the spirit of wine country right in your backyard.  Here’s what to do:

 

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Find a drink that you love

This is what it all comes down to for me, find something you enjoy sipping on.  Quality is key here because if it’s not, I really feel it the next day.  Now, this doesn’t have to be a super expensive drink or an alcoholic drink, just something you truly enjoy and is easy to drink too.

Please note, I’m not an expert by any means.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize what I like and what I don’t like.  I personally like my drinks slightly sweet and there are certain notes that I enjoy, like fruit.  There isn’t a formula here!  I hear from many sommeliers that it’s not about what other people like, it’s what you like.  Keep trying new drinks and I promise, you’ll figure out what drink you prefer.

For example, I recently discovered VOVETI Prosecco and immediately fell in love.  It’s dry, but I could taste a little bit of sweetness from the notes of fruit (I definitely tasted the pear, but there are green apple, melon and ripe peach notes too!).  Because it’s easy to drink, VOVETI Prosecco is great to bring along to parties or picnics for everyone to enjoy.  Sparkling wine shouldn’t be just for special occasions, you should be able to enjoy it whenever you like!

 

Bring a bunch of nibbles

In addition to wine, I always see meat, cheese, and fruit platters in wine country.  I’ve seen it in grocery stores, ready to order at wineries, or in snack packs to take with you if you want to eat outside.  These type of nibbles are perfect for picnics because it’s easy to pack with you, easy to eat, and can compliment so many types of drinks.

Again, I’m not a pairing expert, so I tend to pick a variety things I enjoy eating:

Fruit

Bread

Crackers

Cured Meat (i.e. Salami)

Cheese

Also, try not to buy too much!  It may be tempting to buy a whole block of cheese, but find smaller blocks or smaller packs so you’re not left with too much leftover food.

 

Drinkware

Now this might be controversial, but I prefer to bring glass drinkware to really bring the wine country vibe home.  One thing I noticed at wineries is their impeccable choice in stemware, so I like to take a cue from them and bring nice stemware with me.  Just like food, drinks always taste better when it’s presented beautifully!

SHOP STEMWARE

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Zara off shoulder dress (similar here) | Urban Outfitters Sunglasses | Superdry Sandals | Hat from Florence (similar here)

Go To A Scenic Park (or any pretty setting)

I was just telling one of my friends the other day that I don’t really get to utilize all the beautiful parks in my city.  Just like when I was living in San Diego, I barely went to the beach (crazy, right?!).  My photographer, Arabela, introduced me to Vasona Lake in Los Gatos and it is stunning.  It’s HUGE with plenty of picnic tables and wide open spaces for you to find your perfect spot.

Go do your research and find a beautiful park or grassy area for your picnic.  I bet there are some hidden gems in your area!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

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I’d say those are the most important things you need to capture the vibe of wine country, but here are some additional items I’d recommend bringing with you:

Picnic Blanket

You don’t have to get one that’s specifically for picnics, you just need a blanket what can withstand being on the grass.  I ended up going to my local Homegoods and picking up a throw and it worked perfectly fine!

SHOP PICNIC BLANKETS

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Serving Platters & Dinnerware

I suggest bringing lightweight platters to place the food on.  I mistakingly brought my beautiful marble serving board (which was SO heavy)!  If you don’t want to use paper or disposable serveware, wooden ones are a practical alternative.

For two people, I don’t think plates are necessary since the nibbles are easy to grab and eat with fingers.  But if you have a group of more than two, bringing some might make it easier to eat for everyone.

Don’t forget to bring a bottle opener or an ice bucket (if you need to chill your drinks) too!

SHOP SERVEWARE

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