WINE TOURS FAQ
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Fine Vintage Wine Tours
Overview of Fine Vintage Wine Tours
Who is Fine Vintage?
Why take a Wine Tour with Fine Vintage?
Are these tours only for people in the industry?
Do I need to take a wine course before joining a wine tour?
Before the tour
Destinations Offered
Who participates in a Fine Vintage wine tour?
How often are tours held?
Tours Fees
What does the cost of the tour include?
Registration
I am having problems registering. What should I do?
How will I know if a tour I wish to register for is full?
I only wish to register for a couple of days of the tour (e.g. the first two days). Is that possible?
My travel companion is booking and paying separately than me but we are sharing a room. How do we register without paying the single supplement?
I am traveling solo at this time, but a friend may join me later. How do I register?
I am traveling solo but want to share a room with someone. Does Fine Vintage arrange this?
We are a group of 2 to 4 looking to organize a private wine tour to one of your destinations. Does Fine Vintage organize private tours of this nature?
Payment Schedule
When will I be charged for the tour?
You are charged a US$500 deposit immediately upon registration and you are sent an automated tour receipt. A second deposit is automatically charged by our ecommerce system at 120-days prior to the tour start date and this amount will vary according to the destination. The remaining balance – including the single supplement where applicable – is then automatically processed by our ecommerce system at 90 days prior to the start date using the credit card provided at the time of booking. Should you book within less than 120 days of the start of the tour but before 90 days, you will be charged the $500 deposit and the 120-day deposit. Should you book within 90 days of the start of the tour, you will be charged the full amount. Please note that we accept Visa and Mastercard and all registrations must be done online.
Are payment plans available?
Payment plans are not available. Fine Vintage charges $500 per person upon registration, a second deposit at 120-days prior to the start date of the tour, and the remaining balance at 90-days prior to the start date of the tour. If the tour is less than 90 days away, the full balance per person is due.
Cancellations
I would like to cancel or change my registration. Can I get back all or part of my money?
All tour deposits are fully refundable up to 90 days before the start of the tour. If cancelling a tour at less than 90 days before the start of the tour, the following Cancellation Policy will be applied:
- 43-89 days before departure: -50% of tour price is refundable
- 29-42 days before departure: -25% of tour price is refundable
- 15-28 days before departure: -10% of tour price is refundable
- 1-14 days before departure: – no refund
I have booked for a tour with Fine Vintage. When will I know the tour is confirmed?
Fine Vintage will confirm a tour 90-days prior to the start date of a tour, if not sooner. Fine Vintage reserves the right to cancel a tour due to extenuating circumstances such as minimum numbers are not met, political instability, natural disaster or government-imposed travel restrictions. In the event Fine Vintage cancels a tour, you are entitled to a full refund to the credit card used to register for the tour. Alternatively, you can transfer your deposit to a future tour.
Do I need to purchase medical and trip cancellation insurance from an insurance agent?
We strongly recommend that you investigate and purchase extended medical and trip cancellation insurance for all wine tours.
Transfer
Can I transfer from one tour to another?
Please carefully select the tour you are interested in as we do not transfer people from one tour to another once they have registered. There are no transfers allowed.
Age Registrations
How old do I have to be to join in a Fine Vintage tour?
Visa Requirements
Do I need a visa to participate in the tour?
Travel to the Destination
Travel Insurance
Do I require travel insurance for my tour?
Flights
Do I need to book a flight for the tour?
Hotels
What hotels are included in the tour?
What hotels do you recommend?
What To Expect On The Tour
Dress Code
What is the dress code?
For gentlemen, collared shirts and pants is recommended. Jackets are not necessary but are often worn by some owners, and you will want one for the smart dinners, even if it’s just to walk in with it on. Ties are definitely not required.
For ladies, designer jeans are fine. Generally, dresses, long pants, skirts, and a variety of shoes and boots. Flatter shoes are recommended as you will go from a vineyard to a cellar to a lovely meal in succession.
What to Bring?
What do I need to bring on my tour?
Tour Format
What language(s) are your tours offered in?
How many people are on a tour?
Where do most people come from?
Who will host my tour?
Tasting of Wines
How many wines will I taste?
Can I participate in the tours without tasting the wine?
Will perfume/cologne affect my wine tasting experience?
Purchasing Wines
Can I purchase wines at any of the wineries we visit?
What arrangements can be made to ship my purchased wine back home?
Visitors Joining the Tour
I have a friend/relative who lives in the region we are visiting. Can they join the tour for a day or two?
Food Allergies
I have food allergies. What do I need to do?
Missing Out of Winery Visits
What if I am unable to attend a tour visit for personal reasons?
If I miss a visit to an estate, can I make up for it at another time?
What happens to guests who display disruptive behavior on a bus or winery visit?
After The Tour
Gratuities
Do I need to tip anyone at the end of the tour?
Onward Travel
Where does my tour end?
Does Fine Vintage arrange onward travel?
For those who have booked hotel nights in the region after a tour has ended, please communicate to your local host if you need to return to the same hotel. In most cases our bus will drop you off but in some (Champagne-Burgundy, Spain, Tuscany) this is not possible due to distances traveled on the last day of the tour.