It’s 8:45pm on Thursday and I usually post earlier but today was filled with a few friends and a much-anticipated vaccine. I’m feeling like I’m one step closer to traveling and visiting wineries and doing all the things that make me happy. I’m sure that everyone feels the same regarding what this virus has done to our social and economic well-being. So, on this Thursday evening, I’m going to write about a time when I didn’t have to think about all of those things. I only had to think about how lucky and grateful I was to be able to travel and taste wine.
I’d like to talk about the tasting room. Most wineries have them. They are a place where people gather to taste the different wines of a winery and learn about each of them. But, beyond the…it tastes like this and it smells like that…stuff, there is a real social aspect to it. Most of the high-end wineries have tasting rooms to draw people to their wines and wine clubs. Which are not such a bad thing if you really love their wine and enjoy even more social interaction as most of the wineries host events for wine club members throughout the year.
I personally like to think of these tasting rooms as social affairs. Not so much the wine clubs, per se but just the social aspects of standing at a bar or sitting at a table with people you have never met and sharing your thoughts on what you are tasting. Most will have some sort of opinion and it’s always interesting to hear what others think. Once you’ve tasted the various wines offered by the winery, it can turn into either a debate, a “friends for life” situation, or a learning experience. But whichever it is, it’s surely an adventure that you won’t soon forget.
Some tasting rooms are for a select few that have made reservations. In this case, it’s usually a seated tasting of 8 or more. These tastings can be fun and interactive because the participants have taken the time to make the reservation at a select winery and most have some history or knowledge of the winery. So, the conversation is about the wine…visual, smell, taste. A very educational and social time that usually ends up with a purchase of wine far more expensive than what you had anticipated spending.
The other type of tasting room is more relaxed and social. The clientele is more casual, and the atmosphere may be a mix of sophisticated wine enthusiasts, non-wine drinkers and everything in between. There may be a bachelorette party drinking and sometimes taking tasting to the limit. The ladies will be tasting, laughing, socializing. Then jump into a limo and head to the next winery on the list. For those who frequent tasting rooms and are wine enthusiasts, it’s about sampling the wineries wines and truly experiencing what they have to offer. The social aspects are such a bonus. I visited a winery in California and chatted with the couple next to me in line for my next tasting. We discussed where we were from, what we thought of the wine, where we were visiting next and what our favorite wines were and why. So much fun!
I personally love going to tasting rooms. It’s a festive atmosphere where most people can feel comfortable and included. Even if you don’t know a lot about wine, the staff will bring you into the fold very quickly.
So, I’ll be heading to tasting rooms from the East Coast to the West Coast and beyond just to sit, share a taste of wine and discuss the merits or shortcomings of the wines. After all, it’s a subjective thing, isn’t it? You may love the wine and someone else may not. It doesn’t mean anything other than you have a difference of opinion, a different palate. And isn’t this difference what makes tasting rooms so great to hang out in? Explore some tasting rooms and you’ll see what I mean. It’s a study in human social interaction while tasting the fruit of the vine. Never a bad thing!
Cheers!