| Wine tasting events are becoming more and | | | | you find one that you don't like, discreetly dump |
| more popular. From college classrooms to | | | | the remainder of the glass into the dump bucket. |
| vacations to Napa Valley, if you're going to a wine | | | | There are two things that you should never do |
| tasting event and aren't familiar with the protocol, | | | | when tasting wine: refill your own glass and loudly |
| you'll stick out like a sore thumb. | | | | proclaim a negative opinion of a wine. In fact, in |
| The first thing to note when you go to a wine | | | | some states it is illegal to refill your own wine |
| tasting event is that the staff at various tasting | | | | glass. |
| rooms are there to help educate you, not be | | | | If you don't want to swallow all of the wine that |
| snooty. It is perfectly acceptable to bring a pad of | | | | you taste, you may spit it out. Under no |
| paper and a pen to take notes. Also, if the staff | | | | circumstances are you to spit into the dump |
| member doesn't mention a type of wine that | | | | bucket. Instead, ask for a disposable spit cup. |
| you're interested in, it's okay to ask for a specific | | | | Experts are torn about gurgling and swishing, but |
| kind. | | | | most agree that when you're in doubt it's best to |
| The order of the wines usually goes from light to | | | | err on the side of being discreet. |
| heavy and then from dry to sweet. Since some | | | | Wine tasting can be a lot of fun, but not if you're |
| wines don't follow others very well, it's best to | | | | wearing lots of cologne or perfume. Not only do |
| take the staff's advice when deciding which wines | | | | the scents interfere with your ability to enjoy the |
| to try first. You don't have to try every wine | | | | wine objectively and without interference, but it |
| that is offered to you, and you don't have to | | | | affects your neighbors as well. The best option is |
| finish the entire glass that is poured for you. If | | | | to go without for the day. |