Skip to main content

Wine tasting etiquette: How to look like you know what you’re doing

Spitting, tipping, pressure to buy: All the things you've always wanted to ask about wine tasting and haven't

Wine tasting is an incredibly fun and educational way to spend a vacation, extended weekend, or even just a breezy, casual afternoon. Learning the ins and outs of ancient wine-making practices and methods, differences in varietals, flavor profiles, bouquets, and aromas are all valuable lessons in the world of wine education. And let’s be honest, walking around some gorgeous scenery and sipping on every millennial’s favorite beverage is a pretty fabulous way to spend your time.

But wine tasting is so much more than tipsily stumbling about pretty vineyards tossing around words like “demi-sec” and “assemblage.” There’s a real art to be found in good wine, and being able to see and taste it is something truly beautiful. But just as walking into the Louvre and trying to analyze the world’s most renowned paintings can be a little bit intimidating, so is knowing how to taste and dissect a glass of wine. For this reason, many people are too intimidated to ask some of the more awkward questions or know exactly how to act during a wine tasting. We’re here to help.

How much do wine tastings cost?

Glasses of different kinds of wine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of course, the price of a wine tasting will depend on many factors — the winery and your menu selections, obviously — but some wineries have special add-ons like tours, meals, and even classes you can take, all for additional fees. Generally speaking, though, a simple tasting can be as affordable as $15 per person, or as indulgent as $300. For an average tasting, though, without any extra bells and whistles, you can expect to pay around $40 per person.

What to wear

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The wardrobe goal for a day of wine tasting should be stylish, but practical and comfortable. You can expect to be walking through potentially dusty trails and vineyards, and taking in beautiful, lush scenery. It isn’t the time for impractical shoes. Many wineries are coastal, too, so keep finicky weather in mind. Napa, for example, can be very foggy and cool in the morning, transforming into a hot, sunny day in the afternoon. When considering outfits for wine tasting, remember, layers are your friend.

Another courtesy to keep in mind is your choice of fragrance for the day. Heavy colognes or lotions could very well interfere with the tasting experience for both you and those around you. Wine tasting is a very scent-focused activity, and you don’t want notes of Ralph Lauren impairing your palette.

How to taste

Peter Wassam enjoying some wine.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sometimes, people who are new to wine tasting can feel a bit silly going through the motions. Movies and shows have given us the idea that those who know how to taste wine properly are usually pretentious or villainous snobs. But like any other nuanced hobby or art, wine tasting has techniques that are designed to give you the best experience. Things like sniffing and swirling are part of that, so there’s no need for embarrassment.

The first thing to know when tasting is how to hold your glass. Always, always hold your wine glass by its stem. The reason for this is that the wine is (ideally) being served to you at the perfect drinking temperature. The heat from your hand may warm the wine inside the bowl of the glass, potentially changing its flavor. Holding your wine glass by the stem will also allow you to swirl properly.

Gently swirl the liquid around a few times in your glass. This will release the aroma compounds from inside the wine into the air. When these compounds interact with oxygen, the aromas in the wine separate, enhancing your ability to detect different scents within the wine. This is also why we decant wines, in case you were curious.

Before sipping, put your nose inside the bowl of the glass and inhale deeply. Scent greatly affects how our brains process flavor. Try to detect certain notes before they reach your tongue. You’ll likely have a host or pourer explaining the flavors you might recognize; try to detect those as you inhale.

When you do finally take that first sip, swirl it around in your mouth, coating your tongue and the insides of your cheeks. We detect different flavors and textures in many parts of our mouths, so try to coat every surface.

Finally, enjoy. Don’t get so caught up in acidity or tannins that you forget to actually savor the wine in your mouth.

To spit or not to spit

Jameson Fink/Flickr

If you’ve been taught absolutely anything about manners and proper public behavior, the idea of spitting at a nice winery probably makes you cringe. Good for you. Your mother did a good job.

But this is the time to put those worries aside. In this setting (and this setting alone), spitting is entirely appropriate. Expected, in fact. When you’re tasting a decent amount of wine, you’re bound to feel a little tipsy if you’re consuming every drop. Wineries appreciate someone who is there to taste and not to get plastered. Furthermore, if your goal is to educate yourself and actually learn about the wines you’re tasting, being too drunk to read the label is hardly lucrative. Make good choices.

Chatting with the pourer

Woman being poured red wine.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Generally speaking, those who work in wineries tend to love talking about wine. Asking questions is mostly always welcomed. And no, there truly aren’t stupid questions. If your host can see that you’re genuinely curious and willing to learn, there isn’t a whole lot you could say to embarrass yourself. Wine is complicated. It’s okay not to be a Master Sommelier.

On the other side of the coin — if you do know a thing or two about wine, try not to be a know-it-all. It’s not impressing your date, the wine steward, or the annoyed customers within earshot who just want to enjoy their afternoon. Be humble. There’s always more to learn.

Of course, either way, be mindful of the other guests, and don’t hog your server’s attention if they’re busy with other people.

Tipping

Wayfinder Daybreaker Bifold Wallet
Wayfinder

Yes, you should always tip. It isn’t always expected, but it’s the right thing to do. This is especially true if your host has been particularly knowledgeable and taken the time to thoroughly explain everything and answer all of your questions. A good base guideline is about $5 per person.

Do I have to buy a bottle?

A woman's hand reaches out to select a bottle of red wine from the shelf of a wine shop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You should never feel pressured to purchase a bottle if you’ve paid for your tasting, been polite, and tipped appropriately. Wine tastings are a service you pay for, and the exchange can end there if you want it to. You may not have liked the wine you tried. Perhaps you’re traveling and limited in what you can pack in your suitcase for the flight home. The truth is, you don’t need a reason not to buy a bottle.

However, if you enjoyed the wine and can afford to do so, buy a bottle or two. Your financial support will be greatly appreciated, and you’ll walk away with a delicious souvenir from the day. It’s a win-win.

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
Are you drinking from the wrong wine glasses? A guide for every type
What's a universal wine glass, anyway?
Varied wine glasses

Wine drinking is a nuanced experience. Of course, simply pouring a glass and enjoying it on its own or paired with a delicious meal is certainly something we all love to do. But for those who wish to dive a bit deeper, there are endless ways to enjoy it, and there is a world of things to learn about wine. The glass from which wine is enjoyed may not seem like something that plays a major role in the wine-drinking experience, but if you stop to consider how much oxygen and circulation are affected by stemware, the perspective may shift a bit.

A traditional wine glass has four main parts: the base, the stem, the bowl, and the rim. The base - also called the foot - provides stability and holds up the stem, which is where the glass is to be held so that the wine is not affected by the temperature of the drinker's hands. The bowl is the most important part of the glass, holding the wine itself, and it varies in size depending on the type of wine it has been made for. The rim is the edge of the glass, which the taster feels with their mouth as they enjoy the wine, thus affecting the overall experience as well.

Read more
You know what’s missing from your gin? Cucumber lemon — Empress 1908 Gin fixed that
You know what's missing from your gin? Cucumber and lemon
Empress 1908 Gin

In the hierarchy of spirits, gin is a bit of a wildcard. Whether you’re talking about single malt Scotch whisky, tequila, bourbon, dark rum, or even vodka, you can easily explain why it’s a great choice for someone who has never had it. Gin isn’t so simple. Gin is a love or hate-it kind of spirit. Either you love it because of its piney juniper and various herbs and botanicals, or you think it tastes like a mixture of body wash and grandma’s favorite potpourri.

If you love it, you’ll spend all summer enjoying its complex flavor profile in Gin & Tonics, Gimlets, Gin Rickeys, and every other gin-based drink. But if you aren’t fanatical about the spirit. The appeal of juniper only goes so far, and you start looking for other spirits to mix with, right? Well, what if you had a gin that began with all of your favorite juniper, herbal, and botanical favorites but also added fresh, refreshing cucumber and sweet, citrusy lemon into the mix? That sounds pretty good, right?
1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin

Read more
How to open a beer bottle without an opener – you have lots of options
Don't worry, you will get that bottle open
Opening a bottle with a lighter

The crisis? You want to enjoy a beer, but you have no bottle opener. Don't panic, because we're going to get through this thing. After all, it's surprisingly easy to open a beer bottle without an opener. All the bottle opener does is use a bit of leverage to bend the cap, anyway. So let's create some leverage, and then let's drink some beer.

A quick note before we get started: It's easy to open beer bottles using rings, but the potential for damaging your ring or your metacarpal is very high, so we've left that one out.
How to open a beer bottle with a lighter

Read more