Taking a wine tour with your friends or significant other is one way to learn new things and sample some great wines, all while having lots of fun. And if you do it right, you’ll also get a nice buzz and some great laughs without losing your sophistication or embarrassing yourself. That’s also (or should be) one major difference between a wine tour experience and hanging out with your pals at the bar.
Here are some useful tips to ensure your wine tour is a success:
Make lunch part of your itinerary
Eat lunch
And breakfast, too. It’s Drinking 101, but it’s still surprising how many people skip this step. Don’t think for a second that the palate cleanser crackers, or even a cheese and charcuterie board are going to soak it all up. Read more at Eater.com…
Make sure everyone eats beforehand. If your tour will start in the morning, have a lunch stop as part of it. Bear in mind that if you’re starting early, it will mean that you’ll likely be taking wine earlier than your bodies are typically used to, so you might start to feel the effects pretty fast. A good breakfast is essential in such a case.
Sharpen your sense of taste and smell
Smell and taste are equally important when it comes to fully experiencing all that the wines have to offer. That’s why it’s important to ensure that nothing comes in the way of these two:
No lipstick before tasting
To properly appreciate a wine, your palate should be as ‘clear’ as possible. So don’t drink coffee, smoke or brush your teeth at least two hours before a wine tasting. If you can, also avoid lip balm or lipstick as the oils in these can interfere with the taste of the wine.
Keep your nose ‘clean’ too
Avoid wearing perfume and hairspray when you taste wine, as the strong scents can interfere when you try to smell the wine. 80 per cent of what you taste in wine is what you smell (this is why when you have a blocked nose, you can barely taste any flavours), so this is indeed a very important rule to remember. Read more at Lifestyle Food…
Skipping on lipstick and perfume may sound weird, but not to the pros. You’ll certainly look like you know what you’re doing at the winery. And if someone asks, you can take advantage of the opportunity to share what you know and be the wine pro.
Don’t get drunk
Wineries are not the place to lose your cool. Although they do not discourage their guests having fun, they are also less tolerant of disruptive behavior than your local bar. It therefore helps to know your limits, and decide just how many wines to taste (or swallow, for that matter).
Do spit
Wine tastings are dangerous places for the uninitiated! Of course you can swallow if you want to, but do this towards to end or you’ll end up horribly drunk and not remembering anything. You’ll learn a lot more and your head will thank you in the morning. It’s very hard to keep tabs on how much you’ve consumed at these events, especially the walkaround ones. Read more at Winerist…
Spitting may not sound like something you want to do, but it’s allowed (hence spittoons). And it’s certainly better than stumbling your way through the last half of your tour. It would also be much less embarrassing than getting kicked out or banned from the winery. Limiting your tour to two or three wineries would also be helpful in this regard, as you don’t have to rush yourself and end up taking too much wine in the process.
Camryn Limousine is hands down the premier wine tour provider in Charlottesville. We know all the best wine spots in Charlottesville and Albemarle, and we’ll even give you tips for planning out your day beforehand if you need advice. Call us on (434) 979-8200 and start planning your wine tour, whether it’s for two or a group – we’ve got you covered.
