How to Survive a Wine Tasting Use the Spitters. Wine tastings can cover more than 100 different wines, drinking your sample (or “measure”) of each one will definitely get you drunk. In fact, taking your time, going table to table, chatting with the guys involved in the production or supply of the wine definitely increases enjoyment. Keep your tasting measures small, use the spitters, water and wafers provided and simply relax and take the day at a slow and steady pace.
I've seen enough people try to break through 100 different wines in an hour just to find themselves drunk with 3 hours left before the event. One of the easiest ways to ruin a wine tasting day is not to plan ahead. Instead, expect that all wineries are open for tastings and tours and that they have a lot of availability exactly when you want to visit it. Most likely, you don't want to create an itinerary, make reservations, or consider that some wineries are open by invitation only.
If you're visiting the wine country during a rush hour or planning a wine-tasting weekend, it's even more important not to plan ahead to ruin the experience for everyone. Before heading out for a day of wine tasting, don't eat a hearty breakfast or bring snacks. It's much easier to ruin a wine-tasting day if you've skipped breakfast or started your day with empty calories, such as donuts, a bowl of Froot Loops, or a Pop Tart. Nothing guarantees a disastrous day of wine tasting like a drop in sugar combined with fermented grapes.
Since most wineries focus on wine first, they don't have much to offer in terms of food beyond a few water cookies or crispy breadsticks. Therefore, don't pack snacks of any kind. That way, when you're drunk and “hungry”, you're sure to ruin everyone's wine tasting day. What an interesting read, I never thought about how you can spoil a day of wine tasting.
Are they based on your personal experiences? I definitely agree with you, you should drink plenty of water beforehand and in between. You don't want to get drunk and not remember the experience. Spring wine touring season is in full swing upstate. It's a great excuse to dress up, take nice pictures, and drink all day with your friends.
I've had my fair share of trial and error and I've made some rookie mistakes. So here's my Wine Tour Survival Guide, full of the basics that will help make your day as smooth as a good glass of merlot. There are several companies that offer all-inclusive guided packages for wine tours around the world. I prefer to drive myself and just be careful how much I've been drinking when I'm touring the winery.
If you have more than a week for a wine vacation, you might also want to consider visiting several “wide regions” within one or two countries. So if you focus only on drinking wine, you could also ruin the day after your wine tasting experience. You could spend your whole life traveling and tasting wine and you probably can't find all the subappeals all over the world. Dessert wines, such as port, should be left for the last round, as sweetness can also bore the tongue for other wines.
Charting the right course for your wine vacation is not only time-consuming, but with so many resources at your fingertips online, it can be quite overwhelming to simply determine where to start. If all else fails and you couldn't resist bread and chips, wait a couple more days at the end of your tour and book your detox at Caudalie Wine's Source Spa. Needless to say, but an essential step when planning a wine tourism experience is deciding where you want to go. Not only will this ruin your own wine tasting experience by numbing your taste buds, but it will also ensure that everyone around you picks up a touch of tobacco in every glass of wine they taste.
Most wine regions have plenty of transportation options to ensure you can have your wine and drink it as well. At this point in planning your wine vacation, you've probably learned a lot about the region you're visiting. . .
