Getting the Most Out of Your Cellar Door Visit
Wine tasting is one of my favorite ways to find new wineries! I love learning about each winery’s history, the wine makers, the techniques used to make the wine, the terrior of the grapes…but I wasn’t always like that! People new to wine can be intimidated by the experience. The wine terms can be confusing, experienced tasters can seem snobbish, and you may not even know what kind of wines you like yet.
Cellar doors are a place to learn, taste, experiment with your taste buds, and push yourself outside your comfort zone. But most importantly they’re a place to enjoy amazing wine.
Don’t be nervous. There are no dumb questions. Take small steps towards furthering your wine knowledge.
Here are a few questions I have asked in the past that may be less intimidating to ask during a wine tour if you know the answers.
How many winery tastings should I book for one day?
No matter your alcohol tolerance, your taste buds get progressively less accurate the more wines you are drinking. Pace yourself and plan to visit no more than 4 wineries a one day.
A standard tasting pour in Australia is 15 mL, so 6 pours, at an average of 13% ABV, equals 1 standard drink. In the USA, our tasting pours can be around 60 mL, so about 2.5 tasting pours is equal to 1 standard drink.
What if I don’t like the wine I was poured?
It is ok not to like every wine you are poured. Instead of gulping it down, it’s ok to pour it into the spittoon! This way you keep your palette cleansed for wines you do like.
Don’t announce outloud that a wine is gross! Say it’s not your taste, or you don’t prefer dry, sweet, white, red, etc. What might be a bad tasting wine to you, someone else in the room may really enjoy.
What if I’m on a group wine tour and the wineries are giving minimal wine notes because no one seems to care?
Speak up! Sometimes group wine tours cater more towards the uneducated or uniterested individuals who do not care about the details of the wine making process. By showing your interest, the servers will be more than happy to answer your questions or speak in more detail about the wines you are tasting.
Pro tip: Speak up on your very first pour. Odds are the server will wait till the rest of the group has grabbed their tasting and tell you individually more details.
How do I remember which wines I liked the most?
Take notes! Most of your wine tastings will give you a list of what you are trying, so open up your notes app in your phone and give each of your wines a rating between 1 to 5.
If you can at least remember the order in which you tried them, the server will be able to tell you which wine it was that you enjoyed.
Do I have to buy a bottle of wine after the tasting?
There is no obligation to buy a bottle of wine after a tasting, but you do often get your tasting fee waived or discounts on the bottle price.
If you come across a bottle you really like, buy it in that moment. Most of the boutique wineries you will visit while tasting are unavailable in stores and will be pricey if trying to order online! If you do not decide to purchase, thank the staff for their service and leave a tip if you loved the tasting but don’t want a bottle.
What are some key things NOT to do while visiting a cellar door?
Wearing strong smelling perfumes or cologne can effect the smell and taste experience of the wine. Do everyone a favor and keep your unnatural scents muted.
Don’t show up with a group of 6 or more individuals without making an advanced booking. Most places will not serve large groups without a reservation, but also it’s best to prepare the winery for your group size!
Would love to hear what other suggestions you have for getting the most out of your cellar door experience!
Happy sipping,
Wino On a Budget
