| Many small, boutique wineries are family-run | | | | for a second time, it is a common courtesy to |
| businesses. Chances are quite good that you | | | | buy a bottle of the wine. |
| will meet one of the winery's family members | | | | |
| while visiting a winery. When visiting a wine | | | | What should you do with the wine in your |
| tasting room consider yourself a guest. The | | | | glass you have tasted? If you do not want to |
| owners and staff are proud of their facility | | | | drink or taste the rest of the wine in your |
| and wines. They want everyone to enjoy their | | | | glass, you can pour it into a spit bucket. It |
| visit. Expectations in tasting rooms are | | | | is perfectly acceptable. In addition, it is |
| different than at wine festivals or in busy | | | | a good idea to spit your wine into the |
| bars. After visiting 125 wineries in the last | | | | bucket. Even though tastings are small, they |
| nine months and talking with numerous wine | | | | do add up after a number of tastings. If you |
| hosts and visitors, we have created a | | | | are unsure about spitting, practice at home. |
| selection of ideas to keep in mind when | | | | A frequently heard suggestion is to practice |
| visiting a winery and vineyard. | | | | in the shower. |
| | | | |
| The atmosphere in a winery tasting room is | | | | Do you think wineries are being stingy when |
| one of a subtle sophistication. While shorts | | | | they set out tiny crackers or tiny bites of |
| and athletic shoes are acceptable so are | | | | cheese? Remember this is not your lunch. The |
| semi-dress clothes. Do not arrive at the | | | | purpose of the crackers, dips or cheese is to |
| winery chewing gum. Gum will distort the | | | | cleanse the palate and to help one decide how |
| taste of wine. Heavy perfume and aftershave | | | | the wine pairs with food. Some wineries have |
| will also not permit you or others near you | | | | restaurants, so if you want lunch visit the |
| to taste the wine effectively. Sense of taste | | | | restaurant. |
| is highly influenced by the sense of smell. | | | | |
| Loud outside voices are not appropriate. | | | | Do you want to enjoy a picnic lunch? Many |
| Conversational tones are perfect and fit in | | | | wineries encourage visitors to bring a picnic |
| well with talking about the wines you taste | | | | lunch. Frequently picnic or patio tables are |
| and meeting others who have common interests. | | | | available. Ask in advance if it is okay to |
| | | | bring a picnic lunch and where to picnic on |
| Tasting rooms can be crowded on weekends. | | | | the grounds. Do not bring wine from another |
| Weekdays are generally slower and wine hosts | | | | winery or any other kind of alcohol. Laws |
| have more time to talk about the wines you | | | | restrict wineries and many wineries are not |
| taste. In either case, if the tasting room is | | | | permitted to have any other alcoholic |
| busy, do not elbow your way to the tasting | | | | beverage on their premises. Besides, if you |
| bar. On busy days, some wineries will set up | | | | were going to someone's home for dinner, it |
| tasting tables or bars outside the tasting | | | | would be tasteless to bring your own |
| room. Give yourself plenty of time at a | | | | entrée. Staff and visitors always |
| winery. Relax and enjoy the wine tasting and | | | | appreciate good manners. |
| the ambiance of the tasting room. If the | | | | |
| tasting counter is busy, consider stepping | | | | If you have the opportunity to visit a |
| back to discuss wine with other like-minded | | | | vineyard, do not pick the grapes. If you |
| people. This gives others room to step up for | | | | would like to taste a wine grape at harvest |
| a tasting. Many wineries have gift selections | | | | time, be sure to ask a staff member. One |
| to browse while tasting wines. Take your time | | | | winery we visited this summer mentioned how |
| tasting and browse the displays. | | | | they don't mind visitors walking through the |
| | | | vineyards and taking pictures, but one day a |
| The tasting representative pours the tastings | | | | visitor walked out of the vineyard with |
| in a particular order based upon the style of | | | | several bunches of grapes to ask what they |
| wine. If you choose not to drink a particular | | | | were. It did not dawn on him until an owner |
| wine that's fine. Gently cover your wine | | | | reminded him that the grapes would have made |
| glass with your fingers to indicate you do | | | | wine. The visitor tried to give them to the |
| not want to taste a wine. It is so much more | | | | owner who replied, "They aren't good now. |
| subtle than declaring, "I don't like that | | | | They aren't ready for making wine." |
| wine." Not all wine drinkers like all wines | | | | |
| and wine hosts understand. Visitors do not | | | | The best motto to follow in a winery or |
| need to announce to everyone that they | | | | vineyard would be the National Parks motto, |
| dislike a particular wine. | | | | "Take only pictures and leave only |
| | | | footprints." When you visit a winery, if you |
| Another major faux pas is to pick up a bottle | | | | like the wine and want to buy it that is |
| and pour your own tasting. Allow your wine | | | | great, but you do not need to purchase a |
| consultant to pour the wine. Many wineries | | | | bottle of wine. Do not buy a bottle of wine |
| will offer to sell you a glass of wine if you | | | | unless you like it. Participating in a winery |
| would like more. If you ask to taste a wine | | | | tasting room can be delightful for everyone. |