judgment and dull your taste buds.
•Swallowing isn't really necessary in order to taste the wine fully. If you leave the wine in your mouth for eight to ten seconds, you'll be able to taste it thoroughly — without having to worry about the intoxicating effects of the alcohol.
•If you have driven to the tasting, you're taking an unnecessary risk driving home afterwards if you drink instead of spit. You are risking your life and health, others' lives, and your driver's license.
The simple solution: Spit out the wine. Nearly all experienced wine tasters do. Believe it or not, spitting will seem to be a very normal thing to do at wine tastings after you have practiced a few times. (And, in the meantime, it's one way to appear more experienced than you really are!)
If you know that you can't bring yourself to spit, be sure to have something substantial to eat before going to a wine tasting. You absorb alcohol more slowly on a full stomach — and the simple crackers and bread at most wine tastings are not sufficient to absorb the extra alcohol. Pour any unconsumed wine into the spittoon or bucket provided by the proprietors.
You may hear loud slurping or gurgling noises from "serious" wine tasters at tastings. Drawing air into your mouth does enhance your ability to taste the wine. With a little practice, you can gurgle without making loud, attention-getting noises.
Avoid wearing scent to a wine tasting affair. This includes perfumes, colognes, after-shaves, and scented hair spray or gel.
Because smell is such an important aspect of wine tasting, courteous tasters try not to interfere with other tasters' ability to smell. This means that you should not smoke at any wine tasting. Smoking at, or just before, a wine tasting will also affect the taste of your wines. The smoke and odor of cigarettes or cigars not only interferes with the enjoyment of the taste and smell of the wines, it can be irritating to other guests.
Bubble gum, chewing gum and breath mints will alter the taste of wine. Be sure to rinse your mouth well with water before beginning a tasting.
If you have negative comments about a wine, keep them to yourself, particularly when at a vineyard tasting room. Courteous wine tasters do not volunteer their opinions about a wine until other tasters have had a chance to taste the wine. Serious tasters like to form their opinions independently and are sure to throw dirty looks at anyone who interrupts their concentration.
…Informal blind wine tasting
“I only drink fortified wines during bad weather. Snowstorm, hurricane, tornado - I'm not particular, as long as it's bad. After all, any storm for a Port.”
- Paul S. Winalski
When you attend a blind wine tasting event, make sure you follow these guidelines to keep from spoiling the experience for others. All bottles must be completely and utterly occluded from any sensory evaluation by other guests that could possibly provide clues to a wine's origins other than those provided by the wine itself. Total occlusion entails -- no little brown bags wrapped tightly around the bottle (this gives away shape -- and consequently tons of information) concealing bottle tops, glass color, lead foils, and the size of the bottle. All must be hidden from view. If you must arrive with an uncloaked bottle, do not cross the threshold with the wine thrust towards your host. It is acceptable to arrive with an uncovered bottle if you carry it behind your back or stuffed inside clothing.
Many attendees seem to feel that just because they've brought their wine in a brown paper bag, that they can relax their guard at the opening. So, while well within everyone's view, they grasp the bottle firmly in one hand, the corkscrew ready in the other. They then firmly slide the neck of the bag past the head of the bottle, give a satisfied "Ahh", and prepare to insert the corkscrew. Of course, the entire top of the bottle is now completely nude and visible – so conceal it.
Having successfully reached this point, simply pull the cork. There is no evidence yet that the sound of the cork popping from the bottle gives any clues as to the wine's origin unless it is champagne. Remove the cork from the corkscrew and place it in your pocket. Do not leave it anywhere in sight where someone may discover a freshly moist cork with "Chateau Lafitte Rothschild" branded on the side.
If you indeed fail to adequately hide the cork, and discovery is made, then it is acceptable practice to suggest that they cease looking for the easy way out and start the process of deducing the identity of the cork in your pocket by sticking their nose in that glass of wine.
The tasters guess in reverse order of expertise with wine. Once all contestants have placed their bets, it's time for the unveiling of the wine. This is the wine provider’s moment in the spot light. Your audience turns their eager faces to you. The purchaser retrieves it from its hiding place and carries the bagged bottle to the central gathering place. And then turn to the person with the best guess, remove the bottle from the bag, hand the bottle to the winner, and nod knowingly to the crowd as they press in to see just what the winner is looking at. If none of the guesses are any good, the purchaser maintains control of the bottle.
…Wine tasting dinners
“Strategy is buying a bottle of fine wine when you take a lady out for dinner.
Tactics is getting her to drink it.”
- Frank Muir
A formal or semi-formal dinner can follow a private wine tasting in your home, but most often wine tasting dinners are held at restaurants or vineyards. Prices range from very reasonable to quite costly. This is an excellent time to learn about pairing food and wine from appetizer to dessert. Some dinners will pair food and wine along a theme, for instance, a selection of Australian wines to accompany authentic Australian cuisine.
Wine tasting dinners typically require a reservation. Call the restaurant or winery well in advance to make a reservation and verify their expected dress code.
…Wine tasting at wineries
“Wine gives courage and makes men more apt for passion.”
- Ovid (43 BC - 17 AD)
In a winery's tasting room, white wines are generally tasted first, followed by reds, and then dessert wines. Within these categories, lighter-bodied wines precede fuller-bodied ones. Water and crackers may be offered to cleanse the palate between each wine. Correct wine etiquette does not dictate that you must finish every glass. Winery tasting rooms provide jars, buckets or spittoons to dispose of excess wine. Do not feel that you need to sample every wine offered. Just taste what appeals to you.
If you ask for a second tasting of a particular wine, it is in good taste to buy a bottle. Many wineries charge a tasting fee that is generally applied towards any wine purchase. It is not mandatory that you buy wine; purchase only what you desire. That being said, if you have made an appointment at a small winery, it is in good taste to make a purchase. Proper wine etiquette dictates that you not bring children to a tasting room.
Most vineyards have tasting rooms so visitors can sample their wines after a tour of the grounds. One important thing to remember about participating in a tasting at a vineyard is that the main function of providing a tasting room to visitors is to sell wine.
Many vineyards will also offer private wine tasting parties or dinners and are available for events
