Avoid Wearing Fragrances (perfume or colognes)

This may sound a little strict for those of us that have our favorite perfume or aftershave of cologne. Still, any wine professional will tell you that scented body products, from perfumes to aftershave, leave a cloud of scent around you that can substantially detract from the tasting experience not only for you, but for everyone around you.

A big part of the wine tasting experience is the aromas, and wearing a strong perfume or aftershave is the fastest way to spoil that factor of the tasting for both yourself and others. Competing fragrances can also alter your perception of how the wines taste. That is why it’s best not to wear any fragrance at all when you visit a winery or tasting room.

Another little, yet important tip if you want to keep your tastebuds keen and sharp. Be careful to not brush your teeth too close to your wine tasting. The same is true for eating mints, chewing gum, or even strong or spicy foods before your tasting as that can make your wine tasting experience less than stellar. This is because of the oils used in those products cling to the palate and shroud the taste of the wines. There is nothing worse than an elegant Chardonnay that wreaks of some aftershave or even a minty-fresh toothpaste!

Avoid Drinking Too Much, Too Fast

Wine tasting is supposed to be fun, and it is perfectly fine to drink a bit and have a good time. It is especially true, if you are new to the experience, one can easily drink more than intended, and intoxicated tasters are notably annoying. It is not necessary to follow some planned out or dictated tasting method. Simply following these steps and taking your time with each wine can help you get the most out of each pour and help you avoid drinking too fast.

Avoid Holding the Wine Glass by its Bowl.

At a tasting, always hold your glass by the stem. Holding it by the bowl may seem like the comfortable thing to do, but it also impacts the temperature of the wine, which can hinder you in your efforts to evaluate the wine. Believe it or not, holding your glass by the stem below the bowl of the glass or near the base is one of the absolute musts of wine-tasting etiquette!

Avoid Behaving Like an Expert - Unless you are one...

Always feel free to give your opinion and share your thoughts on the wines with the group but try to avoid acting like a wine snob or a wine expert, unless of course you are one! The wonderful thing about giving your impression of wine at a wine tasting is that there is no absolute “right” answers. Why do I say that? Because your idea of the perfect wine may be completely different from mine, or someone else. So, sip away! Feel free to discuss the wines but avoid being that person who makes the experience more serious than it really needs to be.

Don’t Drink on An Empty Stomach

Before you arrive at a tasting room or winery, it’s always smart to make sure you’ve had a good meal to start the day. Tasting on an empty tummy is the fastest way to over-imbibe and believe the pros: there is nothing worse than a wine hangover! When you drink responsibly, with food in your stomach, you can manage to taste more with less fear of indulging too much.

Wineries that serve food offer anything from wood-fired pizzas to gourmet sit-down tasting menus. You will find wineries that sell snacks and picnic lunches, and other wineries have picnic areas where you can bring in your own food while enjoying that bottle of wine you just selected.

Consult the winery’s website or call them directly if you have questions about their offerings. Take advantage of our California Winery Directory if you are planning on visited a California winery. We have attempted to provide basic information for more than 2,000 California wineries, many of the wineries offer food or snacks, or that have a picnic grounds.

Resist Wearing Strong Scents or Eating Strong Flavor-foods Before Wine Tasting

This probably sounds unnecessarily strict, but any wine professional will tell you that scented body products, from perfumes to aftershave, leave a cloud of scent around you that interferes with the tasting process not only for you, but for everyone around you.

If you want to keep your tastebuds bright, also be careful to not brush your teeth too close to your tasting appointment. In that same vein, eating mints or chewing gum before your tasting can also be a detriment to your experience, as the strength of the oils used in those products cling to the palate and eclipse the taste of the wines. There is nothing worse than an elegant Chardonnay that wreaks of Old Spice aftershave or a minty-fresh toothpaste!

While we have shared in this article 5 Things to Avoid While Visiting a Winery Tasting Room, or if you are invited to a private wine tasting a friend’s home. While I hope you have found these suggestions helpful remember to have fun, enjoy the experience. Remember the best wine is the wine you share with good friends and the time you spend together.

Have you ever heard of the 7 S’s of wine tasting? We look forward to sharing the 7 S’s of wine tasting in California Corks next article.

John Krause

Founder/ California Corks