By: Anders Lund
1. Appropriate Attire – Wine tasting has become comparable to a runway show in the last decade or so. Rompers, sleek dresses, Italian shoes, and exotic dress shirts often flood the tasting rooms. Each winery has different standards when it comes to clothing, not mandated by “wine law,” but rather by the estate itself. It’s important to know where you’re going tasting prior to putting your clothes on. If the name of the winery or estate has “chateau” in the title, it’s safe to assume you should dress up a little more than you would at your typical tasting room. There are some instances where cargo shorts and a T-shirt will be more appropriate than not, it all depends on the location. Whether you’re dressing to impress or you don’t care how you look because you’re being forced to go, remember to be comfortable so you can fully enjoy the experience.
2. A Notebook – No matter what your experience with wine is, if you enjoy drinking it then you need to bring a notebook on your next trip wine tasting. For more advanced wine drinkers, a notebook can be filled with notes, aromas, textures, acidity levels, and so on. Now, if you can’t pick out the tobacco and leather in the Nebbiolo you’re drinking, that’s fine too! Your notebook should be utilized for the basics: name of the wine and the price of it. Only write down the wines you enjoy so you can remember them when you go home. The price is important too because if you’re thinking about buying a bottle, you can compare prices at your local grocery store or wine shop. I would also recommend downloading Vivino Wine Scanner, or a similar application. This allows you to scan a wine and find out all sorts of different information about it, including the average price of the wine.
3. Organic Brushing Rinse – The last time I went wine tasting in Sonoma County, I almost exclusively tried red wines. As a result, my pearly whites were more of a berry red shade. Fortunately, I brought Essential Oxygen’s Organic Brushing rinse with me. After each stop, I used the brushing rinse to clean any stains the wine left on my teeth, and because it’s not harmful for the environment, you can rinse practically anywhere. The subtle BR flavor does not disrupt the flavor of the wine and some people use it as a pallet cleanser in between
4. An Open Mind – There is often a negative stigma that circles the wine community. Notions of snobby, rude, and mink wearing connoisseurs distract from the real value that wine has to offer. I encourage novice and advanced wine drinkers alike to put all of their preconceived notions behind them while tasting because to put it simply, each experience is different. Wine is all about connectedness: connecting with your friends, family, and most romantically, connecting with the place in which the grapes of the wine were grown. Experience the connectedness for yourself and bask in a cultural phenomenon that has been taking place for thousands of years.
5. A Designated Driver – Always have a designated driver when wine tasting! Whether you have a willing sober friend or an Uber driver, a DD is essential. Spit buckets are always available at every winery, so even if your DD can’t consume the wine, they can still taste it!