Over the past several years I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing many tasting rooms across the country. My first adventure to a tasting room was a bit intimidating but at the end of the day, it was exciting and educational. Did I feel like a novice? You bet! But it was the thing that turned me on to wine and the whole world of tasting and experiencing wine. Not all tasting rooms are the same. Some cater to wine aficionados that are there to taste new wines and discuss the merits of each glass on a level that most people are uncomfortable with. Others cater to the bus loads of tourists, bachelorette parties, and limo-driven friend weekends. I prefer to go to tasting rooms on the off hours so that I can have one on one (or close to one on one) conversation with the tasting room host and the other wine tasters at the tasting bar. It just makes it a pleasant experience…meeting new people, tasting new wines, getting the personal attention and expertise from the tasting room host or sometimes even the winemaker! This is the tasting room environment you want if you are there to actually taste the wine and maybe buy a bottle or two!
So, in the spirit of learning about the tasting room process, let’s take a ride together and check one out!
It’s nice to be back in Temecula. It’s fast becoming a major wine region in Southern California. Let stop at one of the tasting rooms along Rancho California Road and check out the wine.
Most wineries open to the public for tastings at 10am. We’ll plan to spend about an hour at a winery checking out the wine, doing a tasting, chatting with the tasting room staff, and taking in the beautiful vineyard scenery.
Here are some of the “rules” of wine tasting that you need to consider before you enter the tasting room:
- Be sure to eat before you go wine tasting. Having food in your stomach will help with the wine absorption.
- Have a plan. You should probably consider visiting not more than 2-4 wineries per day. Spread them out!
- Do research. Which wineries specialize in which varietals? Or just experiment! Find out if you need to make reservations. Some tasting rooms offer walk-in tastings and others require reservations ahead of time. (The higher end premium wineries will most often require reservations)
- Fashion choices. Dress comfortably. In some cases, you may be walking through vineyards. Comfortable shoes are a must! Also, try to avoid heavy colognes. They may interfere with the wine sensory experience. They really can affect what you smell and taste in a wine. So go light on the fragrance.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get down to tasting! Don’t be nervous, I’ll be with you the whole time.
The tasting room is open and bright with large windows and a long bar. It’s exactly as you’d expect in a vineyard/winery tasting room. Wood accents, wine barrels, lots of wine displayed and lots and lots of wine glasses. Along the bar are stations set up with a white mat and 4-5 wine glasses.
Upon entering, we are greeted by the tasting room host. They are eager for us to try their wine and will gladly serve us a tasting. Usually, a tasting room will have a couple of flights of tastings to try. The tastings are for purchase and will either be a standard tasting or a premium/reserve tasting. What’s your choice! The wine tastings are poured (2-3 oz each) starting with white and ending with more full-bodied reds and sometimes a dessert wine. The tasting fees vary depending on where you are, and some wineries will refund the tasting fee if you buy some of their wine. Another option is that you can share a tasting with a friend! You each taste from one flight. If you are visiting more than one tasting room, this may be a great option!
The tasting room host explains the merits of each wine (aroma, taste, description, etc). Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I do all the time. It promotes learning and understanding, and the host is more than eager to share their knowledge with us. So, ask away!
We taste the first wine. It’s a light-bodied white. What do you think? Do you like it?
Now comes the question…to sip or to spit? The choice is yours. Smell the aroma and swish the wine around in your mouth. That way you get the full experience. If you don’t like it, it is perfectly acceptable to spit into the spit bucket located on the bar. Professional wine tasters spit all the time. Especially when the day will be filled with many more tastings it’s good to pace yourself.
There are some crackers on the bar to eat after each taste of wine. They help to clear your palate for the next taste. It’s not necessary to rinse your glass after each tasting but you may want to rinse between the white and red tastings.
The tasting room typically will have note pads and pencils. It is really handy for taking notes on the wines. Which ones did you like? What about the wine did you like or not like? This isn’t a quiz or test…strictly for your personal information.
The tasting room is getting a bit crowded. Let’s make sure we make room for other tasters. It’s about being kind and sharing the space. Plus, it’s more fun to taste with others. Everyone has a different opinion and why not share the experience?
Don’t feel obligated to buy a bottle or more unless you really like the wine. Sometimes at a boutique winery, I’ll buy a bottle or two because I know that I can’t pick it up at a local store or wineshop. These are the fun ones…having a bottle that is unique that you can share on a special occasion or with a special person. Plus, when you open it up months or years later…it will bring you back to the fun day of wine tasting!
We pay the tasting room fee, leave a tip (this is optional) and the host asks, “Do you want to hear about our wine club?”. A wine club is something that most wineries have. It is usually a shipment of their wine directly to you 2-4 times per year. It includes discounts on the winery’s wines, free tastings, exclusive releases, and special events. Something to consider if you really like the wine and the winery vibe.
So, what did you think of your wine tasting room experience? There are so many tasting rooms with different expressions and environments. Go and explore them and most of all, have fun!
Cheers!