6 Hints for Planning a Successful Winery Tasting

Last week I shared insights on how to prepare yourself for a winery tasting. Of course, before you can attend your winery tasting, you need to do some planning as well! Check out these five hints.

1.Decide what wines you want to taste

Whether you have a specific varietal you want as your focus or you’re open to trying all sorts of wine, you need to know this before you start choosing wineries. This is especially important if you’ll be going in a group. The last thing you want to do is visit a winery with a group that is unhappy with their choices. Once you have this decision made, then you can move onto the next variable.

2.Make a budget for your tastings

As you are deciding which wineries to visit, be sure to gather information on the cost of each winery’s tasting. There are some wineries that offer tastings for free, but the majority charge a fee for the tasting. Sometimes the fee will be waived if you purchase bottles of wine. To keep this a fun day for all, be sure you know what each tasting will cost before arriving.

3.Decide how many vineyards you want to visit

Although you may think you have an incredible capacity to imbibe, you probably want to cap the number of stops you make at three. Even if you are spitting most of the wine you’re sampling, your palate will be dulled after that many stops. Keep in mind, at most wineries you’re going to be sampling three to six wines. After three stops, you may have had 18 wines. If you want to go to more wineries, add another day to the trip.

4.Book your visits

The majority of wineries are glad to schedule your visit. If you are hoping to do a tasting at a smaller, boutique winery, an appointment is vital. If you arrive without a reservation, there is a decent chance that you won’t be able to do a tasting. Once you have finalized your top choices, get some reservations on their books.

5.Opt for early

You may be thinking, “But this is a vacation. Why get up early?” The answer is simple. Most people have that mindset. If you can get started with wine tastings in the morning, the winery is likely to be less crowded. A less crowded winery means you are likely to have a bit more time to ask questions and possibly learn a bit more via some one-on-one attention.

6.Make a budget for purchasing

Wineries hold these tastings not only for your entertainment but also to sell bottles of wine. Of course, there is no obligation to buy wine, but it’s better to have a budget in mind. Between a little bit of wine and a great salesperson you may discover that you’ve signed up for a case of wine that really isn’t in your budget. Make a plan of the amount you are willing to spend on a wine order, if you like the wine, and stick with it.

Now, you have a plan for a great day (or more) of wine tasting! Come back next week to get some tips for the day of the tastings.