When I first heard about wine-tasting sessions, it sounded like stuff right out of my dreams. These events are super fun and you can attend them with your date, friends, and even your family members. After attending dozens of them, I am finally reaching a point where I can jot down a few points about how to not look like a total dumbass at a wine-tasting session. Get ready to learn a thing or six about wine tasting!
Tips To Remember At Wine Tastings
- Minimal Clothing
- Don’t Use Too Much Perfume
- Getting Drunk On Three Or Four Rounds
- The Art Of Drinking Wine
- Eat Less Cheese/Bread, It Fills You Up Quickly
- A Couple Of Small Things
1. Minimal Clothing
Don’t overdo it, just don’t. We know that wine brings out the hidden elite side of you and you want to dress up and casually drop some French or Italian words after the first few sips. It will be best if you don’t. Wine-tasting events don’t usually have a dress code, although some wineries do promote a certain style or theme of dressing. Call them up and check when in doubt. But remember, nobody’s there for you, they are there for the wine.
Also Read: Rose Wine Types That You Need To Know Of
2. Don’t Use Too Much Perfume
The aroma of the wine matters big time. It is not just an important distinguishing factor, but also a pure joy to smell and sense the variety of sweet, citrusy, and flowery notes. So don’t come into a tasting room smelling like a big bouquet of lavender or jasmine. Keep it basic and ensure that people in your vicinity can smell other stuff too. Also, as general advice, don’t overuse perfumes. You are born as a human, there’s no need to be a potpourri.
Also Read: A Beginner’s Guide To 8 Popular Wine Grapes
3. Getting Drunk On Three Or Four Rounds
Wine rooms aren’t fancy-looking bars. You are there for and expected to appreciate the wine, not take advantage of it and get drunk half an hour into the session. They are generous pourers and many wine-tasting sessions happen in beautiful gardens, but don’t forget your agenda here. Also, the more you drink, the less you enjoy the rest of the tasting. Make the best of this opportunity and focus on drinking more kinds of wines instead.
Also Read: 5 Best Homemade Wine Recipes For Christmas
4. The Art Of Drinking Wine
When they pour a sample into your glass, take a moment and look closely at the drink, and take in the smell. Try and associate the aromas with different flavor families. I know that is a little too much to ask, but it will be a different experience. Aerate your drink by swirling it. Then sense if the aroma is changing, take a gulp, and swirl it in your mouth. You can choose not to drink the wine and spit it out in the buckets provided. If the last part is totally new to you, then know that this only sounds horrible, but it’s not. Spitting wine during tasting sessions is normal, people spit wine so they don’t get drunk but still enjoy its beautiful taste.
Also Read: Drinking 101: How To Taste Wine
5. Eat Less Cheese/Bread, It Fills You Up Quickly
Take a bite of the cheese so that it takes off the aftertaste of the wine from your mouth and lets your taste buds freshen up. Don’t binge on the cheese, or else you will be full in no time and that’s no good. Certain cheeses compliment some particular wines extremely well. Your guide at the session will give you all this information. You just have to figure out your favorite so that you have a go-to cheese-wine combo to replicate at home.
Also Read: The Best Foods To Pair With Red Wine
6. A Couple Of Small Things
Thou must not talk with friends when the guide is talking. Thou must not give any negative reviews of the wine unless the guide has asked for everyone’s honest opinions. Thou shouldn’t chew gum either as it affects your ability to fully taste the wine. Avoid eating one before 2 hours of the tasting. Thou must not serve yourself, the guide or a staff member will do it.
Summing Up
If you love wine, but are also fascinated by it, then you will have a blast at these events. You not only get to try various wines but also get interesting information about them from the guides. The cherry on the cake is that you also get to meet a lot of like-minded people. So make a plan to attend a wine-tasting session when you can and keep our little tips in mind.
FAQs
Do You Swallow Wine At Wine Tasting?
You can swallow or spit it out after tasting it. You can also drink the ones that you like the most and keep spitting out the rest. Swallowing wines is fine, but it can also get you drunk if your drinking capacity is low. You won’t be able to fully taste the other wines when drunk.
Why Is Wine Tasting So Popular?
It is the best opportunity to try different wines without purchasing their entire bottle. The other reasons are that you get to learn about the wines from the guide and talk to others who love wine just as much as you. Wine tasting is also a relaxing experience.
How Much Alcohol Is In Wine?
Wines usually have around 5.5% to 20% of alcohol content. The most common ones have around 10%.
Can Wine Make You Drunk?
Yes, it can. Most wines have around 10% alcohol content. You might not feel anything after one glass or two, but a couple more glasses and you’ll get the buzz.
How Many Glasses Of Wine Is A Tasting?
You can taste around six to eight wines at a tasting. You’ll get around 30 ml to 60 ml of each wine.
How Long Does A Wine Tasting Last?
It would normally take less than an hour, but if a meal is part of the session then it will take more than an hour. It could also take more time if there are more than six to eight wines per session.
Why Do People Smell Wine First?
Wine is a marvelous and complicated combination of multiple compounds and they deserve to be smelled. It will greatly improve your wine-tasting experience. Also, when we smell our wine, it helps our brain to process the flavors better.
What Kind Of Food Is Served At A Wine Tasting?
Varieties of cheeses, bread and dips, pasta, quiche, and tapas dishes are some great options.
