Destination Cellars, Wine As A Lifestyle

I've been reading The House of Mondavi recently which has me reflecting on how much the role of wine in the lives of Americans has changed over the past forty years and even over the past ten years. The Mondavis helped bring the idea of wine tourism to Napa in the 1960s and since then visiting wineries has become a popular choice of vacation not just in Northern California but all around the U.S. and the world. The next trend seems to be winemaking. Whether it participating in virtual winemaking offered by places like Crushpad, owning a share in a winery, or even doing it yourself in a spare room with a Winepod or participating through experiences like Sonoma Grape Camp, the interactive experience in wine is incredibly hot right now. Wine isn't just what you drink with dinner, it's a whole lifestyle.

That's why its the perfect time for a luxury club like Destination Cellars, which I first mentioned back in March. The club, based in Virginia offers members tailored experiences at over 65 winery properties around the world. The experiences offer the kind of custom adventures you can't get just by showing up at the winery. Private tours, lunches and dinners, wine and food pairings and special overnight stays are all part of the fun. You can also arrange special romantic wine-themed events for important moments like proposals or anniversaries. And for those who want the hands-on experience you can arrange for a custom blending session and create your own wine to take home. The club has partnered with American Express Travel as well as Capital Dream Cars and Cellar Storage. Memberships start at $15,000.