| Most tasting rooms are similar in the way they | | | | at Gloria Ferrer in California. |
| operate. When entering the tasting room, a tasting | | | | The "sit down at a table" theme continued at |
| room staff member will greet you. Walk up to the | | | | Schramsberg in California. After a tour of the caves at |
| tasting bar and say you would like to taste some of | | | | Schramsberg, the tour group gathered in a small dining |
| the wines. Some wineries charge for tastings and | | | | room that had three tables set for a group of people. |
| others do not. Occasionally a souvenir glass is included | | | | Our tour filled two of the tables. The wine consultant |
| when you pay a tasting fee. You may have a choice | | | | talked about the sparkling wines and then served us at |
| to taste all the wines you would like on their list, or to | | | | the table. This afforded a great opportunity to talk |
| choose a certain number of wines to taste, such as | | | | about the wine with the other people at your table. |
| five wines. | | | | This intimate approach occurred after group tours at |
| Let the winery consultant guide your tasting. We have | | | | Pine Ridge Winery and Quintessa in California. |
| experienced consultants who pour the wine and tell us | | | | Occasionally the winemaker will be on hand and may |
| what we are about to smell and taste. Others will ask | | | | give a tour and conduct your tasting. Our most |
| us what we observe about the wines. However, the | | | | memorable tour was at The Lenz Winery on Long |
| latter is less frequent. There is a certain risk that | | | | Island in New York. The winemaker had us taste his |
| winery staff takes if they ask your opinion. I recall a | | | | wines from the stainless steel tanks. He asked us |
| look of disappointment when one tasting consultant | | | | what we thought and more often than not agreed with |
| asked me what I thought a wine tasted like and I | | | | us. His tour proceeded to the barrel room and with |
| replied, "Leather." The consultant thought it tasted like | | | | thief in hand had us taste the wine from some of the |
| coffee. I do not drink coffee and now I have a sneaky | | | | barrels. Tasting wine from the barrels or tanks can |
| feeling that it must taste like leather. | | | | give you an idea if the wine is ready or what more |
| If you go to a tasting room on a less busy day (usually | | | | aging will do to it. The winemaker at Prince Michel |
| in the middle of the week), you will enjoy the | | | | Vineyards and Winery in Virginia has special barrel |
| opportunity to talk about the wine, winery and | | | | tastings. He discusses his wines and the stage they |
| vineyards. Most tasting room staff members are | | | | are at when you taste them. |
| knowledgeable about the wines they are pouring. A | | | | One of our favorite tastings was during the tour at Del |
| mere one percent of the wineries we have visited had | | | | Dotto Winery in California. The tour led our group |
| a staff member who admitted that he just helps on | | | | through the over one hundred year old candle-lit |
| the weekend and pours the wine. He told us he did not | | | | tunnels. Our guide stopped along the way and had us |
| know anything about the wines he was pouring. | | | | taste wines from the barrels. If we liked the wine, we |
| Most of the time, you will stand at the tasting bar. | | | | took a ticket attached to the barrel. After the tour, we |
| Some tasting rooms have bar stools next to the | | | | could order any of the wines we tasted. The wine |
| tasting bar. This is a very welcome addition if you are | | | | would be bottled and shipped to many destinations. |
| tasting at your third winery of the day. Some wineries | | | | Visiting winery tasting rooms is a great activity. Try to |
| use tables for wine tastings. At McGregor Vineyard | | | | limit the number of tasting rooms you visit in one day. |
| and Winery along Keuka Lake in New York, you will sit | | | | We try to visit two or three in a day. Tasting rooms |
| at a table. The wine consultant will bring a plate of | | | | are less crowded on the weekdays. Call ahead or |
| bite-sized food and will discuss the wine list with you. | | | | check their times on the Internet before you start your |
| We also had a "sit down and be served" experience | | | | adventure. |