Wine Tasting Etiquette for Pass Holders 101
Know before you go.
For us, this basic “rule” for wine tasting etiquette for wine passports, is a fundamental for all etiquette, isn’t it? Expectations not met leads to bad relationships, make sure you know what to expect. Read the offer all the way through, and then check it again! Some wineries’ offers have conditions — only valid certain days, different offer for different seasons, only valid at certain tasting rooms or facilities, etc. The details aren’t going to be hidden in fine print, so be sure to read the entire offer, not just the big, bold print.
More reasons to make sure you know what to expect:
- Some wineries are appointment only, or appointment only for certain experiences
- If you’re traveling with pets or children, make sure they’ll be welcome
- If you have a group of six or more, different policies for appointments, pass use, even pricing for tasting experiences may apply.
Communication paves the way.
Everyone benefits when you have a great experience with your wine tasting. Head off the potential for misunderstandings – let your tasting room host or hostess know you’re using a wine passport up front.
- Communicating up front makes sure the wine educator is familiar with the pass and the offer,
- Everyone being on the same page prevents miscommunications about what you’re getting and what you’ll be charged.
Patience is a virtue.
It’s wonderful when the wine educator has a light load. For us, getting more in-depth about the wines and winery is always gratifying. (Want a little more confidence in conversing about wine? You might enjoy our posts, “What Should Chardonnay Wine Taste Like?” and “Nail Cabernet Sauvignon Taste with 3 Easy Keys“) Fair warning – “light loads” on staff are often the exception! Enjoy your time with your wine educator, but don’t monopolize it! The staff are both ambassadors for the brand, but they’re also sales people. If the room is packed and people waiting to be poured, be patient, considerate and concise with your comments and questions.
Kindness is king.
You can be honest AND be kind! Everyone’s palate is different. In fact, I’ve noticed my likes and dislikes can change day to day, or even within a single tasting! Judge the winemaker’s creations on what you enjoy and value. If it doesn’t hit the target for you, “it’s not to my taste,” is highly preferred over “this is swill!”
Don’t be “that guy.”
I can’t believe I need to say it, but we see it too often – don’t get drunk! Even if you have a designated driver, or are out with a group having a good time, it’s ridiculous to get drunk. It may seem wasteful to spit or dump, but trust me, it is so appreciated. Over-imbibing can lead to embarrassing confrontations and bad consequences – why go there?
Know the code!
Whether you’re tasting on a wine passport or just out wine touring, wine tasting etiquette dictates you know at least one key phrase. “Would you like to revisit anything?” is pretty much the universal “ask” (as in asking for the sale). When your wine educator asks if you’d like a re-pour on anything, it is NOT a tribute to your sparkling personality. It’s “code” for, the flight pouring is finished, are you interested in purchasing something? We’ve only rarely felt pressure to purchase (and that would count as “not meeting expectations” for me). If you are considering a purchase (and we hope you do support local businesses!), asking for a re-pour to make sure your taste memory is accurate is a good idea. (But, don’t go overboard with the practice- see “Don’t get drunk!)
Show appreciation!
You are never obligated financially beyond the conditions of the offer. Period. To my value system, wine tasting etiquette is a great place to demonstrate appreciation. We appreciate that the winery extended a special offer to us. We appreciate the wine educator;s time and attention. We appreciate their contribution to the local economy. (We could go on, but perhaps you’ve find an even longer list of your own to appreciate!) We love having saved money on tastings and look forward to purchasing some of wonderful wines we just tasted, which is a nice way to show appreciation. We do look to purchase what we enjoy and value, and if we don’t find a match, we do tip, usually $5, maybe $10 if the experience really exceeded our expectations.
So, ready to go out and enjoy some new wines? Keep in mind some of the wine tasting etiquette tips discussed here, and, for goodness sake, don’t leave home without a wine passport! 🙂
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