Things to know before your wine tasting
Going to a wine tasting? Want to master Wine Etiquette to impress your friends? Easy. Follow the dos and don'ts mentioned in this article
I dislike rules when it comes to wine tasting but there are some guidelines you should follow.
Let us set the scene - summer is turning to autumn, the leaves on the trees are turning to the beautiful colour of amber and you and your friends have planned a day out of wine tasting - but before you rush out and drink every glass of wine imaginable, you should know these unspoken rules of wine tasting at a winery.
Whether it is an exclusive appointment-only tasting or at a tasting room which accommodates hundreds of guests, no one wants to be that person who keeps passing out at the table mid-wine presentation.
So listen up and take notes as this could save you some face!
It's smart casual not casually just out of bed
What you wear to a winery’s tasting room is the first step in improving your experience. We all know you've just bought yourself those stunning stilettos and want to flaunt them about but this isn’t the red carpet at the Oscars, this is a working production facility were correct footwear is of the utmost importance. Drains, soft soils of the vineyard, and trip hazards are everywhere, so let's lower that heel and the risk for injury. We are not saying you cannot wear a fashionable pair of shoes but they should be sensible shoes.
For the men, the answer is yes, you are underdressed. You should look smart for a wine tasting, not like you just came from the beach. I'm against flip flops for wine tasting wear as it doesn’t fall into the sensible shoes category. I’d recommend wearing a nice clean pair of shoes with matching shirt or button-up. You should be aiming for ‘wine country chic’ - think sophistication and style.
I can smell you from here!
A common misconception with wine tasting is that you should fill the room with your favourite perfume or cologne, but this is the worst thing you can do. It is a big NO, there is nothing worse than going to nose a glass of wine and all that can be smelled is someone from 10 meters away. Smell as neutral as possible or at least wear a subtle scent that isn't going to overwhelm the entire tasting room. This will allow you, your friends and the other guests the opportunity to truly experience the aromas, and palate of the wine.
Fake your interest or just keep quiet
So the wine tasting has started, the wine is in front of you and all you can think about is downing the glass and catching up with your friend. Let's show a little respect for the wine presenter and the group, listen in and you might learn something. Don’t speak over someone, it’s rude!
Leave plenty of time to experience each winery
I used to work in the tasting room at Waterford Estate, and nothing would ruin the experience you are trying so hard to host than being rushed. So budget enough time for yourself to experience the full of what that winery has to offer. Call the winery ahead of time and enquire about the normal amount of time a tasting experience would take and plan your lifts and day accordingly.
There are no stupid questions!
The world of wine is one filled with pretension, snobs who think they know more than you and people who think you have to know everything about wine to enjoy wine. Let's forget about these people giving the industry a bad name, how else are you meant to learn about this magical world without asking a couple of questions, but what do you ask?
Here is a list of questions to help you get to know what is unique about your glass, and it might impress your date in the process:
- Which oak does the winery make use of?
- If matured in oak barrels - How long does the wine stay in oak?
- What food would you pair this wine with?
- How long do you leave your red wines on the skins and why?
- Do the grapes come from the estate?
Swirl but don’t spill
Swirling your glass of wine adds oxygen to the wine which brings out the aromas of the wine and allows the wine to breathe which lifts the palate of the wine. Trust me, this will improve your experience of the wine.Practice makes perfect. So to practice here's what I would suggest: Grab your favourite wine glass, fill it with water and do a little practice. For beginners I recommend leaving your glass on the table, placing your fingers on the base of the glass and start swirling the glass. Once you’ve gotten a handle on it, head outside and try to swirl the glass with a similar motion but holding the glass by the stem. Remember it's all about rhythm.
To spit or not to spit
A fun paraphrase of a Shakespear classic but one that carries weight. You do not have to spit every sip of wine that you are tasting but one should be aware of the amount of alcohol that is being ingested. Wine tasting is about enjoying the wine, enjoying the experience of the wine, the people and the atmosphere but if you have a flight of ten wines in front of you, you should think about spitting some out before you can't remember what any of them tasted like. Now I’m not saying spit out every wine - if I'm at Waterford Estate and I have a tasting of The Jem, there is no way I'm spitting the luxurious flagship wine out, but if I'm tasting six wines before tasting The Jem, I might just spit a few out to make sure I can get the full experience of The Jem.
Visiting the winelands should be fun, it should be enriching, it should leave you yearning to taste more of what that region has to offer and most importantly, it should be embarrassment free.
So what are you waiting for? Venture out along the coast and into the Cape Winelands, tasting as you go. These are some of our favourite wine farms to visit:
- Waterford Estate’s service and experience is always a must when visiting the Stellenbosch Winelands.
- Creation Winery is also a must-visit in the Hemel en Aarde valley, their two flagships of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are always a winner.
- Super Single Vineyards is a home to some of the most unique wines in the Stellenbosch region, their new wine ‘The King and I’ is outstanding.
