Wine Etiquette
I happened to get the following info in a press release from the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest. But considering that Salute! wine festival will be Saturday in downtown Winston-Salem, the timing couldn’t have been better, and this has some good advice.
The following are some excerpts of tips from Sarah Catlin, executive director of the Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colo.
which celebrates its 20th annual event Sept. 17, offers her tips on how to best enjoy this season’s wine festivals.
Wear comfy clothing and shoes. Know the environment so you dress properly. The Colorado Mountain Winefest is an outdoor event. Wearing appropriate sun protection, clothes for the venue and comfortable shoes will make it more enjoyable.
Eat before you go. Most all festivals will have food at the event, however you’re likely to go straight to the tasting tents. Having a bit of food in your stomach will help you pace yourself. And be sure to eat while you’re there!
Pace yourself. Most wine tastings are a one ounce pour. Take into consideration that an average glass of wine is five ounces. If there are 50 wineries in attendance and you only taste one wine from each winery, that’s the equivalent of 10 glasses of wine! Drinking equal parts water is always smart. Drink responsibly.
Take a break. This goes along with pacing yourself. Take a break from tasting, and work off some of the wine and energy while enjoying the entertainment. You can also take a break to act like “Lucy” and stomp grapes, watch chef demonstrations and peruse the artists’ booths.
Festival Tasting Etiquette
Winery tents are not a bar. Pour and move. To keep things moving at a particular winery’s tent, choose the wine that you would like to taste and move to the back of the line. Sip the wine while the line is moving. You want the festival experience to be fun for everyone, and it’s not fun when several people belly up to the bar, slowing the line.
Don’t like it? Don’t drink it. Life’s too short for wine you don’t enjoy. This is what the spittoons are for.
Pick and choose. Don’t try to drink everything. Either ask for your favorite type of wine, or ask the winery folks what they think is their best.
Make a list. If you find a wine you love, be sure to either write it down so you can visit the winery or buy the wine immediately.
Don’t drink and drive. It doesn’t matter how many tastes you’ve had, you want a designated driver. To encourage this practice, many festivals offer a non-drinker ticket at a reduced price.
