How to Wine is all about Wine Tasting Etiquette and how to have a successful day of tasting. This is the beginning of a whole new experience and I want you to get the most out of your day. I have focused on helping all who are interested in learning about wine and tasting. New or experienced wine tasters will learn about the etiquette of wine tasting with the basics of How to Wine! Have fun with your journey, enjoy the ride, and please don’t get too hung up on any one thing it will become easier in time.
Enjoy your day out, Wine Tasting!
While you are out at the wineries I want to ensure your enjoyment and success of the day by keeping the below items in mind. Many people just go tasting and figure they will learn along the way but think again! How to Wine, is important, be proactive and start learning before you go, the people around you, and those you go with will appreciate your knowledge and consideration of the whole experience. Never take How to Wine, Wine Tasting Etiquette for granted! You want the experience to be the best it can be! You will have a great time impressing your fellow wine tasters with your new knowledge! Own it and enjoy it, my friends. Go here to learn about Wine Magic!
Very Important Items to remember! Wine Tasting Etiquette
First thing…
You should never wear heavy perfumes, lotions, or aftershave colognes when you are wine-tasting! This truly does interfere with your tasting pallet and sniffer, you know your nose. Plus it will also disrupt those around you in the same manner so be thoughtful to others. People who taste regularly are frustrated when they end up near something with perfumes, lotions, or aftershave colognes. It will mess with your experience of the wines you are trying to smell and taste. This is a BIG NO NO in the winery-tasting world!
Second Thing…
Also very important! Have a designated driver for your day. When it comes to How to Wine, Wine Tasting Etiquette you can and should have a designated driver. Many wineries will give the designated driver free bottled water. Wine tasting is something you want to pace yourself with! Wine goes to your head fast so remember Spitting the wine out is acceptable and encouraged by the wineries. Wineries are not BARs so don’t treat them like they are. Wineries have areas where you can relax and visit with your group, so pace yourself, and spit away tasters!!
Third Thing…
Let us get to the How to Wine, wine-tasting etiquette of tasting! Start with a Swirl of your wine in the glass and let it breathe just before you inhale deeply into the glass and take a sip. Swirl and taste the wine in your mouth for a few seconds. Some people refer to this as chewing the wine. Think about what you are sensing and tasting around your tongue. What area of the tongue are you tasting it? You will want to repeat this 2 to 3 times to really figure out what you are tasting. You will find as you sip and taste the wine it will reveal new flavors and sensations in your mouth.
Take your Time!
Take your time and if the winery has notes about the wine read them! See if you are picking up and tasting the same flavors and aromas. All of this will help you start to identify the characteristics of wine. Make your own notes of what you are getting with each sip. It will change from the 1st sip to the 3rd sip. This is one of the fantastic things about wine tasting. Be open to the surprise!
The Basic Taste areas and The 5th taste is UMAMI
I found a Japanese scientist who was the first to discover the savory taste of the amino acid glutamic acid, which was found to occur in soup stocks made with seaweed. This fifth basic taste – alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter – was named umami, meaning “savoriness” in Japanese. See if you can identify where you are tasting the flavors on your tongue.
Fourth Thing…
Finding wine you want to take home will happen when you are out tasting. If it is a HOT day you will want to bring another cooler with ice packs to help keep the wine at a reasonable temperature. Heat is not a friend of wine so be prepared! Once you get home and unpack your wine you will want to store your bottles in a wine frig, the back of a dark cool closet, or maybe a basement if you have one. You will want to store them on their sides so the corks stay moist.
There are many different types of corks, Natural Corks, Synthetic Corks, and Screw Tops to name a few. See my page on corks and the pros and cons of each type. Your wine will last a year or many more if stored correctly. Some wines are meant to age and some are not. Talk to the pourer at the winery and ask them questions about the wines. I have some wines that are over 10 years old and they are fine.
Not sure what to wear for your wine-tasting day?
For my fellow woman, I suggest flats or low heels for shoes due to so many wineries having gravel, cobblestone walkways, grass, and all that can be tripping hazards with heels. I love summer dresses but what works for you is what is important. Some say sophisticated attire is best but I say be comfortable, you will be out for several hours and you just might sit on the grass with a blanket for your picnic. Now for men, they are easy! pants, shorts & loafers, sneakers, They are always flat! Just be clean and presentable NO torn shirts guys! How to Wine, Wine Tasting Etiquette is a real thing! So go dress up and or keep it more casual. You decide for yourself but I say again be clean and presentable.
Are Kids Welcome?
Most wineries are fine with kids coming but consider only taking them if they are old enough to be well-behaved. No one wine-tasting wants to hear a screaming child or deal with someone else’s kids running around when they are out doing an adult activity. Anyone under 21 is not allowed to go up to the bar where you will be doing your tastings so I suggest if possible getting a sitter. If you do bring your kids make sure you consider others at the winery. Keep your kids under control. Plan a picnic and bring a blanket so you and the kids can enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of the winery.
Our Fury Friends
If you are an animal parent and you want to bring your furry friend(s) with you wine tasting is usually fine with most wineries. I have seen many people with their furry friends at wineries. Always have a leash, water bowl, snacks, and poop bags for them just like for you, well on the water and snack side. Always a good idea to call and confirm with the wineries before going.
My ALWAYS ITEMS before heading out for a day of wine tasting
Always 1
Always eat before you go out for a day of tasting! If you do not eat you will end up getting very tipsy and even drunk! That is not the purpose of wine tasting and is not part of How to Wine Wine Tasting Etiquette! Also, you won’t really remember the wines you have tasted, that would be a bummer! You might even come home with wines you don’t really like, I have been there and done that so trust me on this point.
Always 2
Always pack yourselves a lunch cooler with food and plenty of water. Bringing easy-to-pack foods like cheese, crackers, bread, salami, deli meats, and of course fruits like grapes, apples, and berries. These are just a few of my must-haves. Very important to keep yourself hydrated, VERY VERY Important!! I cannot say that enough. This will help keep you on track and feeling good the whole day. Don’t FORGET the wine opener just in case you want to relax at one of the wineries for a picnic.
Always 3
Map out the wineries you want to visit that trip/day, this will keep you on track knowing what and where your next stop is. Some regions are very large and you want to hit 3 to 5 wineries in one day. I have in my experience made sure when I travel to a wine region farther from my home, I like at least 2 full days of tasting. I have gone to wine regions that have 18 to 24 wineries or more, this is why this step can be very important in your planning. Find maps online of the wine region you are going to be visiting. Start planning! I always enjoy this step, it gets me excited about the trip or day. If you don’t make it to all your wineries don’t fret just remember you can always go back and visit them another time, they aren’t going anywhere!
MY Final Thoughts on How to Wine? Wine Tasting Etiquette
How to Wine is all about Wine Tasting Etiquette and how to have a successful day of tasting. This is the beginning of a whole new experience. I absolutely love wine tasting with friends, always a great time! My past includes pouring wine at several wineries in California and through that experience, my love of wine grew along with my knowledge. As luck would have it my friend June worked at a winery and she got me pouring wine at wineries. Best volunteering job I ever had, the best part was I got paid in wine. Wineries are not allowed to do this anymore! Such a BUMMER!
Having something to look forward to is important in one’s life! I have been told people who have something to look forward to in life live longer. Think about that while sipping on a glass of wine. So start planning your day of How to Wine, Wine Tasting Etiquette Day!
I hope you found this write-up helpful in planning your day and adventure in the wine-tasting realm, and that it has given you the confidence to get out and wine taste. This should help you feel comfortable during your first tasting experience. The folks that work at most wineries are very helpful and nice, just let them know it’s your first time and you should be well taken care of! I remember being new to all of this and the wine pourers are some of the most knowledgeable folks out there so sip and learn. Being a newbie can be a little intimidating and that is why I wrote this page for all of you.
How to Wine? Wine Tasting Etiquette, Now Enjoy your day of tastings!
Don’t forget to click here to check out our wine club so you can have your own tastings at home with friends and family. I love hosting wine tasting at my house and we have even done blind winetasting! Oh, what fun that is!
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