1. Plan your visit well. Pack maps, bring (or research where to purchase) food and water, stash a blanket if there are picnicking facilities, tote sunglasses, and sunscreen if you’re in a warm climate, sweaters if it’s going to get cool. There’s nothing worse than being drunk, sunburned, and starving at 3 p.m. Find out if you’ll be visiting a bona fide tasting room or just sampling a few wines in the front room (a.k.a. gift shop), where selling merch is a higher priority than exposing you to wine.
2. Call ahead. Ask if you need a reservation, if there are fees (for the tasting or snacks) and what amenities are offered, such as souvenir tasting glasses, food, etc. Can you buy a bottle and drink it there? Are children and pets welcome? Remember, this isn’t a pub crawl: People take their wine seriously in tasting rooms, and so should you.
3. Ask a lot of questions. Forget what you know about wine; it might not be relevant here. Remember, the people making and pouring the wine know a lot more about their wine than you do. You don’t have to impress them with your knowledge. By approaching each tasting with a “beginner’s mind,” you will learn more.
4. Leave preconceptions at the door. If you think of yourself as only, say, a Sauvignon drinker, try the Chardonnay. Pinot Noir snob? Get over yourself. The new generation of Syrahs might just blow you away. The best way to discover new delights is by being open to possibilities. That’s one of the reasons the experts routinely do blind tastings.
5. Chat between sips. You’ll meet people from all over the country, even the world. Wine makes for an easy ice breaker. At Zaca Mesa, we met a neat trio of men from Quebec, and at the Los Olivos Café, my friend chatted up an FBI agent and his wife.
6. Find out what’s unique. Good questions to ask the vintners: What makes their wine special? What are they known for? Bonus-round questions include: What is the winemaker experimenting with? What’s coming up next? And what’s in those barrels that’s available only to wine-club members? (If necessary, become one. A few dollars’ investment can lead to big savings, and great wine, for years to come.)
7. Look, smell, taste. These are the three steps to follow with every glass. First, note the color of the wine: Is it straw- or honey-colored, pink, or ruby-red? This provides your first clue to what you’re about to taste. Then stick your nose right in and take a few deep sniffs. What do you smell? Be creative. It’s not all citrus and dark berries. How about ripe melon, grass, lingonberry, leather? Then comes the payoff. Swirl the wine in the glass to bring in oxygen, then take a small sip, allowing the flavors to roll around your mouth and tongue and down your throat. Does it taste like you expected? What flavor sensations can you detect? Where do you taste them? What kind of finish does it have? Jot these impressions down on the tasting handout, or better yet, start your own wine journal. Don’t forget to answer the most important question of all: Do you like it?
8. Spit! Don’t be shy, it could save your day. Especially if your plans are fairly ambitious, you can’t—and shouldn’t—drink all the wine you’ll be offered. The pros know to taste then spit, and it’s not considered unladylike— in fact, it’s standard operating procedure at professional tastings. Do practice your aim and don’t miss the bucket.
9. Trust yourself. Don’t rely on the vintner’s tasting notes to form your opinions. And don’t fall prey to peer pressure. That guy in the tweed jacket may sound like Snooty McKnowitall, but if you don’t like the way a wine tastes, it doesn’t matter how many points Wine Spectator gave it.
10. Have fun! Even if you get serious about wine tasting, it isn’t work. You’re here because you enjoy drinking and learning about wine, plus it’s a great way to socialize with other travelgirls (and guys). The more you know the more interesting wine tasting becomes, but remember, it’s not a competition.
11. Keep it real. On a wine trail, it’s easy to get carried away and think you can handle nine or ten vineyards in a day. While it may be possible, it’s not a good idea. For one thing, you’ll be tempted to rush through what should be a relaxing experience. Wine is meant to be savored, not chugged. Take your time. Swirl, swish, and swoon over a great pour. Pros suggest visiting just two to five wineries per day. Be selective. Pick your favorites and try some new places with great reputations—or great facilities—and take your sweet time enjoying them. The best part of all is that you can always come back. Do it right, and you probably will.
