Incredibly helpful advice for tasting in wine country or even close to home
Even at Chateau Lafite Rothschild there is no need to feel intimidated. The same advice applies.
Let’s talk about this. You want to branch out to find out what wines you may like. Or you just love the idea of a wine tasting. You’re not sure what to expect, or you’ve been to a few and just want a reminder. This is for you:
If you are going to a winery or tasting room in most places, the following advice will apply:
Plan, but don’t over plan. Refer to some of my posts on insane wishful thinking about how many places you can realistically go to: wine country travels and planning for fun times in Paso Robles.
Click on Wine Travel Adventures below the title. All wine travel posts will come up.
Don’t run from one winery/tasting room to another. It’s not speed dating. Give yourself a chance to savor the wine and the experience.
Have a game plan of where you may want to go but be prepared to change given circumstances along the way.
If your heart is really set on going to one specific place, make a reservation. Some places have multiple “experiences,” from simple tasting in the tasting room to a detailed tour of the whole winery. Prices will vary accordingly. Be aware that really detailed tours take a lot of time.
Definitely plan how you will travel from one place to another. Be safe. There are positives and negatives to getting a driver. As I wrote in a previous post: The advantage to having a driver is that you can drink freely and not worry about it. The disadvantage of a driver is that you can drink so freely that you don’t remember what you drank. We have friends who had no idea how many wine clubs they had joined until the bills started coming in. One bill was so large they wondered if they had bought a piano by accident.
If you want to share a tasting, which we almost always do, make sure the place allows it. I try to avoid what I refer to as prima donna wineries that won’t allow you to have any flexibility.
You do not have to buy a bottle or join a wine club if you have paid for the tasting. The fee is often waived if you do buy a certain amount. If it’s a free tasting, most people buy at least one bottle.
If you don’t like a wine, there should be a dump bucket to pour it out. Only one place did I have to search for a place to pour out the wine. I was tempted to pour it in a plant. I did not. See below about spit buckets. I have yet to see someone use one at an informal tasting at a winery.
You can do as much or as little as you want in analyzing the wine. I always like to swirl the glass a little to release aromas. I do like to swish the wine a little in my mouth to release flavors. You do you with how you want to determine whether you like the wine or not. You are there to enjoy.
You can choose a theme for what wines you want to taste if you want. I still remember the women we met who were doing a Pinot Palooza. Have fun with it.
Eat something first! Eat as you go along, too. I have bought almond crackers from Costco (that means a lot of crackers) and left them in the car so that I could snack. Water is usually available during a tasting, but I pack extra water just in case.
You probably should leave a tip if you have had a lovely experience, which is almost always. The standard amount is around $5, although if the experience is more involved you will probably want to add more. I do not believe you ever have to tip before you even start. You should be getting great service regardless.
Do not be intimidated. If you aren’t feeling comfortable the place is not for you. It is not your fault. Most places are extremely welcoming and want to share the love of the wine with you. Ask questions. I often ask for recommendations for other places to taste. People who are enthusiastic about wine want to share information.
On the other hand, don’t be THAT GUY who shows off how much they know and hogs the conversation. Everyone is there to have a good time.
Worst THAT GUY story: A man brought his own tasting glass to the tasting, and told the winemaker his wine glass was better than what they provided. He only brought the glass for himself and not his spouse.
It should go without saying, but you do not have to like a wine just because others do.
Do not wear perfume or strong smelling cologne at all. It really really interferes with being able to smell any aromas of the wine. I have been to wine tastings where people actively avoid anyone who is wearing perfume. Don’t be THAT GUY!
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If you are going to classes, or tastings in a wine store, or more formal tastings there are a few other things you may want to know:
The no perfume or strong cologne thing holds even more.
If it is a class or a more formal tasting, you should still not feel intimidated. You are there to learn and have fun. I go to tastings for the same reasons. I am so impressed when some of the wine professionals or fellow wine drinkers know a lot. I like to learn from them.
There may also be a spit bucket. For those people who are there to taste, as in seriously taste, they will not swallow the wine. After swirling it in their mouth, they will spit it out. Until I took my WSET* course at 10 in the morning, I never did this. Since at some events there are not individual spit cups, but only dump buckets, I have seen people bring their own to events. Just letting you know what to expect.
There are also walk-around tastings. There will be multiple tables with different wines at each. This is a great opportunity to choose what you want in any order. Feel free to ask questions at each table. Because there will be more wine available, make sure you pace yourself! (Eat whatever food may be available, and drink water.)
If you are driving to an event, the same rules apply as above. Be safe.
Even if you are not driving you should make sure you eat and drink water. At a big wine event, you are drinking quite a bit of wine. You want to be safe even on foot or public transportation.
Now go and have a Great Time!
*WSET stands for Wine Spirits and Education Trust. If you want to know more head to my post on wine education.
