Wine tasting essentials

Happy Monday! Did you do anything fun this weekend? A bunch of us went wine tasting in Napa on Saturday and it was a perfectly sunny day to be strolling through vineyards while sipping on Pinots. It doesn't hurt that Matt's BFF just happens to be something of a wine connoisseur, so with him as our guide we we're always able to get the most out of tasting excursions. Here are a few essentials if you're ever planning a trip to any one of California's beautiful wine valleys.

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Breadsticks. Most tasting rooms have plenty of breadsticks on hand, but a few mom and pop vineyards might not have them. They're great palette cleansers to munch on so you don't confuse your Merlot with a Cabernet.

Wine Wipes. This handy little compact comes with 20 wipes to rid you of tannin teeth! {those terrible stains that wine lovers fall victim to} Just run over your teeth and mouth and order another round of reds. It also neutralizes acids that can corrode enamel.

H20. Any alcohol causes dehydration. Tack on walking around in the sun all day and it's a recipe for a wine headache. Remember to drink plenty of water between vineyards and tote it around in a cute, eco-friendly water thermos.

Bottle stopper. A few vineyards allow you to open their bottles to be enjoyed out on decks overlooking the grapevines. We might not finish the entire bottle in one sitting in which case putting a wine stopper in it to save the rest of the bottle is necessary. Afterwards, stick in the trunk of your car to avoid oxidation and going to jail for having an open container of alcohol in the cabin of the car ;)

Picnic lunch. Some vineyards have cafes with yummy lunch menus, but I find it sweeter to settle down for lunch with our own sandwiches and cheese on a sunny picnic table or in one of Napa's wide open fields.

ps. Perfect wine and cheese pairings
pss. Don't forget to enter the MyMemories giveaway!