Planning a Sober Weekend in Wine Country
The group chat says “vineyard weekend” and lists three tastings and dinner. Before booking, ask what you would enjoy doing in that area if you had the afternoon to yourself. Find one or two activities, then work out how you will get there and rejoin the group.
Read the itinerary before splitting the costs
Ask which tastings, tours or meals are included in the booking. Find out whether you can skip a stop and still use the transport. If a group rate includes wine, check what alternatives the host actually offers and what you would still be paying for. Decide whether the arrangement suits you while you have options.
Choose one part of the trip you would join even if there were no tastings. A walk, an art gallery, breakfast with a friend or a visit to a local market can give you a reason to go. Check hours and reservations for the specific place, especially if you are going midweek or outside the main season.
If you prefer to decline the invitation, our guide to turning down alcohol-centered plans offers wording you can use. You can also say yes to part of the trip. “I’ll join you for dinner. I’m going to spend the afternoon on a walk near town.”
Give your alternative a route and a finish time
Find out where the group vehicle will drop people off and whether you can walk from there to your own activity. Check how you will get back if the road has no practical walking route or a rideshare is unavailable. If using a taxi, confirm the pickup point and whether the operator needs an advance booking.
Give the organizer one place and time for rejoining. “I’ll see you at the restaurant entrance at six” is easier to act on than “I’ll catch up later.” If they need a headcount before boarding, tell them when you’re leaving and when they should expect you back.
Our sober trip planning guide gives a way to arrange one check-in before you leave home. If you’re sharing a rental, decide when you’ll have time to yourself and what you want your first morning to look like.
Make a choice for dinner and the evening
Look at the menu and check how the group plans to order. You may want to decide on water, tea or another drink before the server arrives. If there will be a shared bill, ask early how drinks will be split. Use the approach that fits what you’re comfortable paying for.
Arrange a way back to your room or rental on your own if dinner runs long. Keep the address handy and tell someone if you change plans. If the trip overlaps with your own milestone, you can use the same small planning approach as an anniversary during a work shift. Choose a time that suits you and tell only the people you want involved.
The NIAAA’s practical planning guidance includes identifying situations that make it harder to stick to a decision about drinking. Before you leave, choose a response you can say comfortably if someone offers a tasting. “Thanks, I’m here for the walk and dinner” gives the group a clear answer.
Medallions to consider
If you want to carry a medallion while traveling, choose the milestone privately and keep the piece where it will be easy to find.
The photos show sample milestones. Confirm your choice in the Sobriety Time selector.
Tricolor Opulent Deep Blue Diamond Sparkle
Elite deep-blue design with a stone-set triangle. The selector lists 18 months and annual milestones from 1 to 65 years.
Tricolor Glittering Silver
Deluxe silver-colored design. The selector lists annual milestones from 1 to 40 years.
Common questions
Can I go to a winery without joining the tasting?
Ask the specific venue what visitors can do and how its bookings work. Decide whether you’d enjoy spending that time there.
What if the group wants to stay together all day?
Ask before booking whether separate activities are possible. If the itinerary depends on one vehicle, make a workable transport plan first.
Keep reading
Compare designs and milestone options in Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins.
