5 Tips for a Successful Winery Tasting

You’ve made your winery reservations and scheduled a driver for the day. Now, the day of tastings has arrived! With great weather forecast, you are ready for a day of fun! Here are a few more tips to ensure a fabulous day.

What to wear to the winery

My biggest advice is not to overthink it. Yes, you want to dress nicely, but you also need to consider the locations you will visit. If you’ll be walking in the vineyard, you’ll want to wear shoes and clothes appropriate for walking in grass and dirt. Also, it is advisable to bring some sort of layered element, if you’ll be touring a wine cellar. They can be pretty chilly, even if you’re only in the cellar for 10 minutes.

Be open but also honest

When it’s time for the actual tasting, you may be asked which wines you want to taste. When possible, be open to wines that you normally don’t drink. Perhaps this winery makes a Merlot that you’ll adore, even though it’s not your favorite red. On the flip side, if you really don’t like a wine with heavy tannins (or insert other characteristic here), it’s fine to pass on one of the wines you’ll be tasting.

It’s ok to spit

Forever we have been told not to spit out our food and beverages. A winery is a place where it is completely acceptable to spit your wine. There will be spittoons nearby, as many customers opt to spit. Whether you are spitting because you don’t like the wine, are trying to limit your consumption, or feel full from so many wines, take advantage of the spittoon. You actually will look like a seasoned taster when you do so.

Take notes

This may seem like overkill, but hear me out. Even if you’re going to only one winery, you’re going to taste a handful of wines. You initially may think that you’ll remember which one you like the best, but it’s not as easy as you think. Here’s a scenario:

• You are given four reds and two whites to taste.
• You start with the whites and think they’re both fine.
• As you taste the first red wine, you automatically decide it’s amazing.
• However, you then taste three more reds. The third red is appealing also.
• What was it that you liked most about the first red? The third red?

If you are purchasing bottles before you leave, it may be easily remedied. However, if your plan is to go home and make a decision on your purchase, you may not remember why you liked each. You also may not remember which red was first or third. Open an app on your phone and take notes. You’ll be glad that you did.

Don’t feel pressured but be attentive

Of course, a winemaker would like it very much if you buy wine when you attend a tasting. That does not mean that you are obligated to do so. However, you also need to be a good patron, which means being interested in the wines. Listen to the information that is being shared about the grapes, the winemaking process, and more. Ask questions to learn more. While you may not buy any wines, you can gain some new knowledge.

With tips shared, it’s now time to head out and enjoy a fabulous day of winery tastings!

For more suggestions to help you have the best winery day ever, be sure to read this article on how to prep and this article on how to plan your trip.