I grew up camping in some extreme conditions and as an active duty Army Officer, I’ve spent plenty of evenings in the field. I’ve punched that ticket and have no desire to rough it anymore. These days, we glamp. About two years ago, we purchased a travel trailer with all the bells and whistles and have made glamping a regular occurrence.
Since being stationed in California wine country, I’ve learned that there is a community that has brought together two of my favorite things: glamping and wine. There are some official communities that facilitate this pairing to include a program called Harvest Hosts. For an incredibly affordable annual fee, members of Harvest Hosts are linked up with host sites around the country (often wineries and farms) and are able to RV camp for free at the locations. There are a few stipulations, but the hosts are incredibly accommodating and will often make exceptions to the Harvest Host requirements. However, free camping is not limited to Harvest Host, check out this exceptional article regarding free camping: Free Camping 101: Guide to Finding FREE Campsites Anywhere!
My love for this incredible combination of wine and glamping was first began at an event facilitated through the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, a non-profit that my husband and I became members of when we were stationed in Monterey, CA. The foundation organized a camping trip to Pianetta Winery where the family-owned winery provided dinner, breakfast, and wine tasting.
We knew upon arrival to Pianetta Winery that the Pianetta Family shared a love for camping as they have a beautiful Airstream camper available for rent at the most gorgeous location of the estate overlooking the vines of Paso Robles. The adventure gave us the opportunity to meet the Pianetta family, tour the wine production area, and taste their fantastic wines. Their down-to-earth perspective was evident in their style of wines. Pianetta Winery has a unique “jug wine” that truly makes wine approachable. They were incredible hospitable to families and children, even tolerating my wild animals!
If you’re interested in combining glamping and wine tasting, I highly recommend that you check out Harvest Hosts. Additionally, if you’re looking to visit California wine country and glamping is an option, consider checking out RV resorts in the area that you’re traveling. I’ve found that there are incredible resorts within biking distance to many incredible wineries!
