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Temecula Wine Responsible Partner Program

FAQ - Frequently asked questions for Temecula Black Car

WINERY FAQ:

Q. Can I choose the wineries on my tour?

A. You may choose your wineries from the list on our PREFERRED WINERIES page, preferably at the time of booking, but no later than 24 hours before the start of the tour.

We will do our best to arrange bookings at your preferred wineries but cannot guarantee they will be available.

Q. Can I change my mind on which winery to visit once the tour has started?

A. As we have to make a reservation to visit a winery, and as most reservations have to be requested by email, this is very difficult to do.

We will always try, but cannot guarantee success.

Q. How long will I be at each winery?

A. We endeavor to give our clients at least 60 minutes at each stop, with 90 minutes for lunch.

Please note that all wineries in Temecula require limousine and tour companies to make reservations, and will only hold the reservation for 15 minutes.

Q. How much wine will I get on the tour?

A. The normal  “tasting” at each winery is 5 or 6 one-ounce pours.

As each bottle of wine contains 25.4 ounces, on one of our Lunch Tours visiting 4 wineries, you can expect to consume just under a bottle of wine.

Q. At each winery, do I get to choose which wine to sample?

A. At the larger wineries, you will be given a list showing the wines that the winery has to offer.

You will be able to select from that list.

However, at the smaller wineries which have limited production, it is more common to have a fixed tasting list.

PICK-UP AND DROP OFF FAQ:

Q. Can I be collected from my home or hotel?

A. Absolutely.

We will collect you from any address within a 15-mile radius of South Coast Winery free of charge on our inclusive tours.

For Transportation Only Tours, the collection area is within 10 miles of South Coast Winery.

For collection outside that radius, there will be an additional charge.

Please note that we offer special-rate tours from the Coachella Valley and San Diego areas that include a transportation charge.

Q. How flexible are the collection and drop-off times of my tour?

A. Os we offer only private tours, we can be totally flexible.

Most wineries open at 10-11 am and close for tastings at 5-6 pm.

The timing is, of course, dependent on the opening and closing times of the selected wineries.

VEHICLE FAQ:

Q. Can I choose The vehicle to be used for my tour?

A. While we always try to accommodate the wishes of our clients, any request will depend on our vehicle availability, and other bookings we have.

For example: We might have a request from 2 people for our 8-seat limo.

Providing we don’t have a larger group, we can accommodate that request.

TIPPING FAQ:

Q. Should I tip while on the tour?

A. As in most service industries, staff expect to be tipped as tips form an important part of their earnings.

However, if you are on one of our Lunch Tours, Light Lunch Tours, or Supper Tours, we have already included a 20% gratuity on the items that are included in the tours.

Any additional items that you purchase are not included in that tip.

Q. How much should I tip?

A. This Is very difficult to answer!

We believe a tip should be given based on the level of service.

At the wineries, if you have received good service from a pourer or server at a winery, it should be rewarded with a good tip, while if the service received was poor, that should be reflected in the size of a tip.

For your driver, the same applies!

There are 2 exceptions:

1. At the restaurants included in our tours, we always add 20% on your behalf on items included on your tour.

2. We add a 20% service charge to the cost of our long-distance tours, i.e. tours that originate in the Coachella Valley, as the day is long for our drivers, often exceeding 12 hours.

Winery Etiquette

Our aim is to provide the best and most enjoyable wine-tasting experience in the Temecula Wine Country! We hope the following tips are useful.

What to wear:

It’s best to go for comfort! Many wineries in the Temecula Valley have unmade roads or areas, so it’s wise to wear comfortable shoes. If you have booked a production tour, this is particularly important if walking through the vineyards.

We are also in a rattlesnake area, so be vigilant!

Though wine-tasting in Temecula is not a formal event, it’s recommended you wear clothing that is comfortable but tasteful – leave the bikinis for the beach…

The summers can get very hot, so make sure you have sunscreen and a hat if you plan to be outside.

Evenings can cool down rapidly, particularly in the Autumn and Winter, so bring along a wrap or sweater! You can always leave it in the car if it’s not needed.

Most wineries have outdoor heaters and misters, so they are usually pretty comfortable.

Tasting Tips:

It’s wise to have something to eat before (and during!) wine tasting. Have a good breakfast or lunch, and bring a snack with you.

Wineries may not allow snacks that are not purchased from them but you can always have them in the car.

Water is always available on our tours, please ask! Drinking water helps dilute the effects of alcohol…

Wine tasting is a sensory experience – it’s best not to wear heavy perfume as it can interfere with the olfactory sense, not only your own but others.

While spitting in public is frowned upon generally, it’s perfectly acceptable at a winery!

All wineries should provide spit buckets, if you can’t see one on the counter, feel free to ask for one. Remember, it’s not only for wine that you don’t like – it’s also for palette cleansing and intoxication control!

Ask your server about the wines – they are well trained to help! Tell them what you like and ask for suggestions, they love to make recommendations and are eager to educate “newbies”.

And finally… behavior:

No winery will tolerate abusive or intoxicated guests. It is entirely at their discretion – if a staff member observes unruly, drunken or aggressive behavior, they will request us to remove the offender.

We as a transportation company MUST comply with this request as members of the Responsible Partner’s Program.

Also, outside liquor and wines are not permitted in our wineries. Wineries that have restaurants or food trucks generally won’t allow outside food.

There are some wineries that permit picnics, so if you want to include this on your tour, let us know and we’ll make provisions for this.

SO –  be polite and respectful, it will make your experience, and that of others, much more fun!

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