For wine lovers and those who want to explore wines for the first time, going on a wine tasting tour is one of the most wonderful activities to enjoy. This is a tour where you have the opportunity to visit various vineyards and have a taste of what they have to offer.
For someone who is not familiar with these types of tours, however, the experience could be a little too overwhelming, and at times, even intimidating. To make the most out of your wine tasting experience, there are some etiquettes you need to remember. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines, so strict compliance is not necessarily required. Nevertheless, the key is to enjoy, relax, have fun throughout the tour, and know that wine is a process of discovery.
If this is your first time on a wine tour, here are four tips to help you have a fun and memorable wine tasting experience:
1. Skip the perfume
It is common knowledge that a person’s sense of smell and taste are closely related. Wearing strong scents during a wine tasting event can disrupt and compromise your experience, as well as everyone at the event.
Before heading for the tour, avoid using strong perfume, body wash, lotion, or aftershaves that have a heavy scent. The same goes for smoking—try not to smoke before going to the event since it can impair your taste buds, and everyone could smell the lingering tobacco scent which could also cause problems for them.
2. Keep an open mind
Going on a wine tour means you get to taste wines of all flavours, aromas, and blends. Even if you have had a bad experience in the past with chardonnay, that should not stop you from liking it. Chardonnay, which is also known as the “winemaker’s grape,” takes well to a wide range of winemaking methods.
So, you can taste various types of chardonnay from different winemakers, and all will be different in various aspects. During the tour, don’t stop yourself from experimenting with different brews and let your senses guide you.
3. Pay attention and listen
Most wine tours will have someone with lots of wine knowledge leading the group. Pay attention and listen closely to what they are saying because it is not proper to ignore the wine greeter since they can offer you a full wine tasting experience. They will tell you facts about the wine, how it’s processed, and its origins.
This will make your experience more exciting rather than just grabbing a few drinks at the bar with your mates. The idea of being in a wine tasting tour is not just to drink wine, but to also learn something new about them along the way.
4. Know about spit vs. swallow
While it may seem a bit rude, spitting is actually allowed on wine tasting tours. Yes, you would not want to waste good wines, but you also don’t want to end up drunk after just visiting three wineries/vineyards. Some people swallow, but if you want the best experience and stay sharp, pacing yourself by spitting as you go is the solution.
Wineries will have a spitoon or buckets available in every table so that you can get rid of any residual wine. Experts suggest that spitting wine is a great way to avoid overconsumption of alcohol and dulling the tastes buds. If you don’t want to finish the wine on your glass, you can also pour the leftovers in the bucket.
Many first-timers are typically concerned about going on a wine tour, thinking they have to be prim and proper. The most important aspect to remember is to have fun. By following the tips given above, you’ll be able to make the most out of your tour and make fun and memorable moments. If you are looking to go on a Portarlington wine tour, get in touch with Wilsons Wine today! We’re happy to help.
