Etiquette

The information has been reproduced courtesy of Southwest-Wine-Guide.com.

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There are specific basic rules of wine tasting etiquette, whether you’re at a party or a tasting. Wine tasting can be a fun and enjoyable experience! Taking cellar tours and wine tastings, learning about the terroir and experiencing the beauty of the vineyards and the grapevines brings a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into making each fantastic bottle of wine.

Many people are intimidated by the thought of a wine tasting and avoid wine tasting rooms altogether. But at wine tastings, be they at a winery, a wine store or a house party, you will learn so much and will make new friends who share your interest in tasting wine.

Wine tasting for beginners starts here! Familiarise yourself with these wine-tasting etiquette tips to help you become more comfortable as you advance from a novice wine taster to a wine connoisseur.

Presenter etiquette

As a courtesy, we would like to remind members to please listen attentively when invited presenters are presenting during their sessions. We build time during the presentations for discussion at your tables.

Wine tasting tips

Enter a wine tasting and expect to be greeted by a committee member, wine pourer or even by the winemaker or owner. They are there to discuss the winery, the grapes grown, the types of wine they produce, and which wines are available for tasting. It is improper wine-tasting etiquette to ignore these details, as they are part of the overall wine-tasting experience.

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Wine tasting prices vary from tasting to tasting. On average, the presenters offer 6-8 wines, including a conversational wine, a palate cleanser to wake up the taste buds. The club provides tasting glasses to those without their glasses, and you can even purchase your own set from the club.

Concentrate on tasting wines that you are interested in learning about. It is okay to skip any of the wines offered on the wine tasting menu. And, if you taste a wine that you do not care for, it is perfectly acceptable wine tasting etiquette not to finish that particular tasting of wine. Please make use of our spittoons.

One of the basics of wine tasting is to understand that the wine poured is a sample for tasting. So, don’t expect to receive a full glass of wine and do not ask for more than a tasting pour, as it is not proper wine tasting etiquette to do so.

Tasting the wine

The basics of wine tasting, whether in a tasting room, wine store, or at a party, include how to properly taste the wines. Here are some fundamental facts about wine tasting:

  1. When the wine is poured, look at it, especially around the edges. Holding the glass by the stem and tilting it makes it easier to see how the colour changes from the centre to the edges.
  2. Sniff the wine to compare the fragrance after swirling it.
  3. Gently swirl the wine in the glass. This increases the surface area of the wine, allowing it to reach your nose more effectively. It also provides oxygen to the wine, helping the aroma to open up.
  4. While swirling the wine, note how slowly it returns to the side of the glass. This is how you note the wine’s Viscosity. More viscous wines are known to have “legs” and are most likely to have higher alcohol content.
  5. Sniff. Hold the wine glass a few inches from your nose and then let your nose go into the wine glass. Note any fragrance you may smell.
  6. Sip. Take a sip of the wine and roll it around in your mouth before swallowing to ensure that all your taste buds are exposed to the wine. You may detect sweet, sour, savoury, bitter, or salty flavours. Here is where you may also detect texture.
  7. Aspirate through the wine. Pursing your lips, draw some air into your mouth and exhale through the nose. This process opens the aromas of the wine, allowing them to reach your nose. The nose is the only place where you can truly detect the aroma of the wine.
  8. Take a second sip of the wine. This time, bring in some air as you sip. Note any subtle differences in flavour or texture.
  9. After swallowing, note the aftertaste and how long the finish lasts.
  10. Write down your experience. We provide a wine tasting scorecard or sheet for you to jot down your impressions of the wine you’ve tasted. Wines have four basic characteristics: taste, tannins, alcohol and acidity. A good wine will have a distinct balance of all four characteristics. Ageing the wine softens the Tannins. The acidity will soften over the wine’s lifetime. Alcohol remains constant regardless of the wine’s age.

Cleansing the palate and spitting wine.

The club provides water to cleanse the palate or to rinse the wine glass between tastings, especially when switching from white wines to red wines.

Experienced wine connoisseurs who taste several wines at a single tasting will spit the residual wine into spittoons between tastings to avoid overindulgence and palate fatigue.

If you can’t bring yourself to spit (don’t feel bad, we can’t do it, either), make sure that you have eaten something substantial before going to a wine tasting. Alcohol is absorbed more slowly on a full stomach than on an empty stomach.

Other wine tasting tips

Generally speaking, part of a wine tasting includes small snacks, such as plain crackers, placed on all tables during the tasting to cleanse the palate after tasting the wines. Do not take handfuls of these snacks; that would be a wine-tasting etiquette “no-no.” The club provides a light supper halfway through the tasting.

Courteous wine tasters try not to interfere with their ability to smell wines. Avoid smoking or wearing heavy perfumes or after-shave lotions when you attend a wine tasting.

Gum and Breath mints alter the taste of wine during wine tastings. Avoid using them when attending a wine tasting.

Keep your opinions to yourself. So maybe the wine you tasted wasn’t exactly what you liked. If so, keep your opinion to yourself until others in your group have had a chance to taste.

20121114_201256Wineries hope that once you have tasted their wines, you will want to purchase bottles of their wine. Support these hard-working, local wineries by buying a bottle (or more) of your favourite wines.

Do not get “tipsy” at a wine tasting. If you know you will be tasting several wines, consider appointing a designated driver to ensure you get home safely. If you’re travelling with a group, consider hiring a taxi to ensure a safe and comfortable ride home. If water is provided, feel free to drink this. If not, feel free to ask for water.

 

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