Visit a vineyard at grape harvest

A vineyard tour takes half a day and is the most grown-up item on the list. It costs a small treat, and the main work is booking ahead and arranging a ride home. The point is simple: walk the rows while the vines are full and let someone else do the cooking.

When to go

Grape harvest usually runs from late summer into autumn. In much of North America that means September and October, though the dates change with the grape, the region and the year. Early varieties come off first, and some are picked well into the cooler months.

Call or check the website. Harvest is the busiest time at a winery, so some places are quieter on weekdays, and some close tastings during picking. Book ahead for any day, and especially for weekends.

What to expect on a vineyard tour

Vineyard visits vary, but most include a mix of:

• A walk among the vines. Some places let you wander, others offer a guided tour.
• Harvest activity. You may see grapes being picked by hand, or loaded into bins. A few vineyards let visitors help pick, if you are happy to get your hands sticky and your back a little sore.
• A tasting. A tasting usually means a small flight of a few wines, in small pours. It is optional, and you can sip and leave the rest.
• A shop or cafe. Often with local food and sometimes picnic tables.

Grapes grown for wine are usually smaller than supermarket grapes, with thicker skins and seeds, and they are often very sweet. If someone offers you one, try it.

Types of vineyard tour

Not every vineyard offers the same thing, so ask when you book:

• Self-guided. You walk marked paths through the vines at your own pace, sometimes with a sign or map explaining the grapes.
• Guided. A staff member walks you through the rows and often into the building where the grapes are crushed and the wine is stored. This is the best way to learn how it works.
• Tour and tasting together. Many places combine the two, and some charge one price for both.

Ask how long it lasts, whether it is outdoors if the weather is bad, whether children or pets are allowed on the grounds, and whether there is a fee for the tour or the tasting separately. A tasting is only for guests 21 and over in the US, but the walk is open to anyone the vineyard allows.

What to wear to a winery, and what to bring

You have walking shoes and a ride home. A few more things:

• Layers. It is sunny in the rows and cool in the cellar.
• Flat, closed shoes. Soft soil, gravel and stones make heels tricky.
• Sunglasses and a hat.
• Water. Drink it throughout, especially if you are tasting.
• Something to eat. Do not taste on an empty stomach.
• A tote bag, if you plan to buy a bottle or two.

Wasps and bees are attracted to ripe grapes, so move calmly and do not swat. If you are allergic, take precautions.

If you are tasting

Alcohol is for adults. In the US the legal age is 21. Some basics:

1. Sit down and take your time. There is no need to finish every pour.
2. Most places have a spittoon or a bucket, and using it is normal. You can taste and not swallow.
3. Eat something, and drink water between wines.
4. Choose a designated driver, or book a car or a tour. Do not drive after drinking.
5. Ask about the wine. Guides are generally happy to explain it, and no question is too basic.

You do not need to know anything about wine to enjoy a tasting. Say what you like, and say what you do not.

If you do not drink

Plenty of people visit vineyards for the setting. You can walk the rows, take photos in the golden light, buy grape juice or a picnic lunch, and sit outside. Ask when you book what is on offer, since some places have a non-alcoholic tasting, and others have none at all.

What goes wrong

• You turn up without a booking. Many are full, especially on a Saturday.
• You wear the wrong shoes. Soil, stones and heels do not mix.
• You drink too fast. Pace yourself, drink water and eat.
• You planned too many stops. Two is enough. Wine tasting takes longer than you expect.
• The vineyard is closed to visitors on the day. Check hours the day before.

Make it a fall evening

Go in the afternoon, walk the rows with your friends, and stay for a late lunch or a cheese board. Take a bottle or a jar of grape juice home. If you want a quieter way to end the day, bake a pumpkin bread and eat it that evening.