I love to go wine tasting but am by no means a wine snob. In fact, despite the fact that I drink a glass of wine every day, I rarely spend more than $10-12 on a bottle and am always learning new things about wine. In fact, I am still learning wine tasting tips every time I visit California’s wine country.
Comparing 3 different old vine zinfandels–so fun!
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Napa and other areas of California wine country lately, which left me thinking about all the mystery that surrounds wine tasting. I say mystery because there are a lot of things that people wonder about wine tasting, like “should I “chew” and spit the wine?” Most people who go wine tasting aren’t wine snobs either, and many don’t have the courage to ask what they might think are dumb questions.
Well, don’t worry because I’ll do the asking about wine tasting tips.
1. How much should I expect to spend to taste wine?
Wine tasting varies a lot. In California, lesser-known wine areas like Lodi have complimentary tastings! When the tasting is free, I usually buy a bottle. In contrast, Napa Valley is the most expensive area–most tastings are $15-20 per person and some are even $50 or more. However, there are some ways to get around those steep tasting fees, including visiting less touristy wineries and, if you’re in Napa Valley, opt for the $25 wine tasting card for tasting rooms in Napa.
At the Bogle winery near Sacramento, the tastings are free!
2. How will I know where to go?
Plan your tastings based on what types of wineries you would like to visit and how much their tastings are. If you choose carefully, you may not need to visit more than a couple. Decide what types of wineries you would like to visit: small and homey, large and decadent, with formal gardens, with art, with a tour, specializing in whites or red…?
The luxurious grounds of the Darioush winery in Napa Valley
After you’ve narrowed it down, ask at the tourism office–they always have detailed maps and plenty of suggestions. Then ask the locals. When you stop in for a tasting, ask the tasting room managers (a.k.a. the people pouring your wine).
3. What should I do? Swirl? Chew? Spit?
Wine tasting is a personal thing. Everyone has his or her own preferences, and what you smell, taste, and think about a wine is different from the next person. The people working at the winery know that. They also know that the way people taste wine differs, too.
The most common techniques to get the most out of your wine tasting experience are the following:
Swirl the wine in the glass for a few seconds to let it open. This allows oxygen to enter the wine which lets the “nose” of the wine come alive. Hold the glass by the stem and either pick up the glass and swirl it or leave it on the counter and swirl it.
Stick your nose in the glass and consider the aromas.
Take a sip. Let it sit in your mouth for a second to absorb the flavor. Some people like to “chew” the wine, which enhances the flavors.
You can choose to swallow it or spit into the dump bucket on the counter. Both ways have their advantages. Spitting the wine allows you to drink more without it going to your head. Swallowing the wine allows you to feel what the wine is like going down.
The tasting notes and “dump bucket” at Waterstone tasting room in Napa
Take at least a couple more sips. My friend Sherrie, a.k.a. Big Nose Wino, suggests 3 sips–the first to get the previous wine off the palate, and the next 2 sips to find out if you like it. If you don’t like the wine after 2-3 sips, dump the remainder in the bucket. Do so also if you just are feeling like you’ve had enough. It is not considered rude! That’s what those containers are there for!
4. What are all those grape names they keep rattling off?
The names you hear can get overwhelming. In California, there are so many kinds of grapes (varietals) grown, but you should keep in mind a few important ones: sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, zinfandel, and the Bordeaux varietals of malbec, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and petit verdot.
The grapes depend on the region, including the terrain and the weather. Napa Valley is known for its rich soil but cabernet is the star, and in hotter Lodi, zinfandel reigns.
Wines must consist of 75% of one grape to be called by that grape. For instance, if you are drinking a cabernet sauvignon, it may be 100% cabernet sauvignon, or it may be a blend of 2 or more grapes, but at least 75% of it is cabernet sauvignon. When tasting you will be told what the make up is.
5. Should I buy anything?
Not necessarily. As I mentioned above, if the tasting is free, it is a courtesy to buy a bottle. If you find a wine you particularly like, buy a bottle. It makes a perfect souvenir of your trip or a great gift for someone you know who loves wine!
A new personal favorite, so I bought a bottle.
6. What is the best time of day to taste wine?
This depends on you. Many tasting rooms open at 10:00 because the earlier in the day, the fresher your palate is. If you taste later in the day, keep in mind that everything you have eaten and drunk affects your palate. However, if wine makes you sleepy, you may feel more comfortable avoiding daytime tasting.
7. What other tips should I keep in mind?
Drink lots of water. Those small tastings really add up, and you can quickly get dehydrated, leading to a headache and dry mouth.
If the tasting room offers a cheese plate, order one and have fun considering wine and cheese pairing.
Ask questions. The person pouring your wine is a resource of information about wine and the area. Take advantage of that.
The tasting room manager answers our questions at District 4 in Napa
Tasting Notes (a paper with information about each wine) and a map of the area: if you are not shown these, ask. They will help you understand more about the wines you are tasting and get more out of the experience.
What do you think about the mystery of wine tasting? What questions or tips do you have?
Good advice overall on tasting wine visiting wineries. We visit wine country very often. Everyone is different but for us we think visiting three wineries is about the perfect fit. Also packing a picnic lunch at one of the wineries is a must. Sip and savor over the day.
Great suggestions. I love getting picnic supplies at V. Sattui in Napa Valley, but certainly packing a picnic would be a wonderful idea. And I agree that 3 wineries is a good number for 1 day.
Great write up Jenna! I’m a fan of that first sip, the cleanser, being one that you spit. It’s a great way to save yourself a few calories and from drinking too much. That second sip is the first real sip. The third is the confirmation… of whether you liked it or didn’t. Cheers! Hope to see you again soon. Have fun on your trip!
Big Nose Wino recently posted..Top 10 things to do in downtown Napa: number 1 revealed
I like places that are less formal, teach you something but aren`t too fussy about the wine tastings. Some places are so formal when I just want to have fun.
Ayngelina recently posted..Haleakala Sunrise
I agree. Some of the big ones are too busy and crowded to have time to teach you anything about the wine. However, I’ve always found the people in the Napa and Sonoma areas to be very friendly.
These are all great tips Jenna. I was just at a wine tasting in Mallorca (going in a post tomorrow) in this old villa. The atmosphere I think really makes the tastings. It was hard however to be tasting in the heat of the day, but I can see how your palette might be better first thing in the morning.
Suzy recently posted..The Packed Suitcase For Life and The Overdue Vacation
Yes, wine tasting in the heat is not the best. The last time I was in Napa, we tried a lot of chilled wines, which were very refreshing. Wine tasting in Mallorca must have been fun!
I always feel obliged to buy a bottle if the tastings are free… and i can usually find one that i enjoy! although if I didn’t like anything, then I dont feel bad about not buying either
Jade – OurOyster.com recently posted..Free E Book – The Art Of World Travel
True, if you don’t like the wines, you shouldn’t feel obligated to buy.
These are great tips to a pretty novice wine taster. My wife and I live in Pennsylvania and are on a very limited budget. We just started this year and really had no idea what we were doing. We have been slowly learning. Pennsylvania has a large number of wineries and we have found that a max of three or four each trip is a good number.
I didn’t know about Pennsylvania wineries. I also recently learned that grapes are grown in the Midwest.
Great tips, Jenna. I love wine tastings and visiting wineries too. We do prefer the smaller wineries for a more intimate feel and getting to know the owners. We’ve learned along the way not to do wine tastings on a semi-empty stomach =) There’s a growing wine region here in northern San Diego if you make it down here. You’re so lucky you live near Napa. Safe travels!
Mary @ The World Is A Book recently posted..Iceland’s Golden Circle Photo Tour
When I get to southern CA again, I’d love to check out the wine area near San Diego! Thanks for the tip!
Good tips. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but it is nice every so often. Cool that you go tasting in Napa Valley. I’ve been a few times with my grandparents.
Good tip on the water and spitting it out if you have had enough. Tasting seems like it can gradually build up and make it unsafe to drive after a while. Do they do wine tasting buses that drop people back home somehow?
Andrew recently posted..Pichincha Volcano in Quito, Ecuador
There are tours that you can join so you don’t have to worry about driving. There is also the wine train and downtown Napa where you can walk to the tasting rooms. When we go, we usually take turns tasting or visit just a couple of places with a break in between so that we don’t have problems driving, but wine tasting does creep up.
I did a wine tasting in Italy last year, outdoors in the vineyard. Got a sunburn, but so worth it. Great tips, Jenna.
Sophie recently posted..Powis Castle – A Welsh summer garden
I didn’t go wine tasting when I was in Italy because I didn’t enjoy it then (I was much younger), but I will definitely do it next time I am there. The vineyards must be so beautiful.
My additional tips:
Don’t be intimidated by “appointment only” places; it’s not that they don’t want visitors, they may just have a specific permit. These places have often been some of my favorites and since they do get fewer visitors, the experience is more personal.
Try to learn the lingo and speak up on what you like and don’t like. The better you can identify what you like (something “jammy” or “crisp” or “spicy) and what you don’t and can articulate it at the winery, the more the person pouring can help you find something you’ll love.
At places that do charge, they’ll often waive the charge if you buy a bottle. If you’re on a budget, google “napa wine tasting coupons” or the specific winery name + coupons. I’ve found lots of 2 for 1 tastings this way. Otherwise, there’s no shame in sharing a single tasting between two people.
If you really want to learn about wine, consider going beyond the basic tasting. Several places do more intensive (but still fun) seminars, offer food pairings or cooking classes, special vineyard excursions, wine blending, and even horseback riding through the vines.
Plan your day carefully and start at the vineyard farthest from your day’s end point. If you plan to buy, pack a styrofoam cooler for the trunk. Even on cool days, the heat in your car can ruin a bottle. And bring your own bottle to dinner. Even with a corkage fee, it’s usually more economical that paying for one at a restaurant.
Great tips!! Thank you for sharing them! I honestly haven’t been to the appointment only places because of the extra work and a bit of intimidation, but I should try it sometime. There are just so many wineries around here… Good point about the corkage fee, too, because a lot of visitors may not realize that it’s so common to bring your own bottle to restaurants, and with glasses of wine being so expensive, it is definitely worth it.
I absolutely love wine tastings especially when they’re paired with some munchies so all that wine doesn’t go to your head. I love the photo of the Darioush winery…looks like a magnificent place to visit!! Great tips all in all my friend.
Jeff Titelius recently posted..Postcards from Holland
Jenna, really good pointers here! I’ve found it interesting to see how wine tastings compare from country to country. There’s so much to learn!
Just a few days ago, we explored Croatian wine country. We made three stops (which was a good number for us – following pointer #7: pairing with cheese and other goodies, and asking lots of questions of these up and coming vintners). Having just been to Napa/Sonoma a few months ago, it was fun tasting Zinfandel in its ancestral homeland.
Tricia recently posted..The Hunt for the ‘Original Zin’: A Wine Tasting Tour of Croatia
Your trip sounds amazing. I wish I could be there!