We have a couple of tasting events coming up for our little winery this month and it brought up some thoughts on wine tasting etiquette. I was at a winery a few months ago out in Sonoma. It was a tiny little place off the beaten path with a tasting room in a shed that they had this sign up on the wall listing the Rules of Wine Tasting. It struck me funny, as I was standing in an old, dirty shed, that I was reading etiquette rules, which were now dirty and faded from the elements that had been creeping in through the cracks in the walls and ceiling. I thought, ‘do they really need these rules, here?!'

However, after I started reading, a couple came in that broke one of the rules- they smelled like smoke. And it became obvious to me that some people just need guidance and these things may not actually be common sense to everyone. If you remember one thing about wine tasting, remember this first rule - do not smoke before tasting or wear too much cologne/perfume. Much of what you taste is what you smell; therefore, if you reek of perfume, cologne or smoke, you and others around you cannot properly taste the wine! Smoking also destroys your taste receptors, so if you do smoke, you will not be able to properly taste the wine (or anything else for that matter), so save your time and money and skip the wine tasting.

Another logical, however often overlooked rule of etiquette in wine tasting, is don't hog the wine. If the pourer is busy with other guests, do not impatiently grab the bottle and pour it yourself. If it happens to be an open tasting (at a private tasting or an in-home tasting) and you are pouring the wine yourself, do not give yourself an oversized pour, especially if you are not sure if you like the wine or if others have yet to try the wine. And remember, there is no rule that says that you need to try every wine at a tasting. If you do not prefer to taste a certain wine, feel free to decline the wine.

A related rule regarding hogging- don't hog the tasting bar. If you are at a wine tasting and there is a crowd waiting to taste the wine, get your pour and move off to the side to allow others near the table/bar. If you are asking the winemaker or host questions about the wine, just be courteous enough to allow others a chance to ask questions, as well.

Now, the spit bucket. This is a completely acceptable receptacle for disposing of not only the excess wine in your glass if you do decide to dump, but also for spitting. Although, it may seem rude to spit in public, it is actually completely acceptable and this is a good plan if you are going to be tasting many wines and wish to actually be able to render your judgement on them throughout the tasting!

You may also wonder when you go to a wine tasting, how much should you expect? Generally, one pour of each wine is all that you get, although this can vary depending on the tasting. If you are at a winery event, most wineries charge by the event or flight, and will outline what you are allocated. If you have a question, simply ask to ensure that you are on the same page with your host.

Happy tasting!