Are you attending your first wine tasting event? These can feel like very classy affairs, especially if you’ve never been. Something about sampling expensive wine with friends feels very high class and special, even if you’re just doing it on the beach or in a local pub.
Do you know how to act at a wine tasting? There’s nothing to be worried about, but it’s normal to have some anxiety before doing something new.
We want to put your mind at ease.
Keep reading for a few of our top wine tasting tips for wine tour newbies.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
When you’re going to your first wine tasking no one expects you to be an expert. That would be silly!
Faking it is only going to end in future embarrassment. Instead, when you want to know something about the wine that you’re tasting (or even if you just want to make conversation) ask a question that makes sense to you, even if you don’t care about the answer (or understand the question!).
This should be a learning experience. Don’t just fake it.
2. Dress for the Occasion
Not all wine tastings are going to be formal affairs. Sometimes they’re casual, like at “wine on the beach” type events. Other times they’re done in pubs or brunch restaurants where casual wear is the obvious choice.
If you’re going somewhere “nice”, though, and you’re unsure, semi-formal or business casual clothes are a good bet. A nice wine tour often has a more formal dress code, for example.
You don’t need to go all out with a suit or a ballgown, but a nice outfit or a cocktail dress can be enough to let you fit in.
3. Don’t Drink the Wine
This is only partially true, though some people consider it a hard and fast rule.
The real point of asking you not to drink the wine is ensuring that you don’t get drunk during the tasting. It isn’t a good look (unless you’re doing a private home tasting amongst friends, in which case go for it).
Many people choose to spit the wine out as they go. It isn’t considered rude as long as you’re subtle about it. You’re there to taste, not drink.
4. Relax and Have Fun
This event can feel very sophisticated if you’ve never done it before, but in reality, you’re just drinking (or spitting) alcohol with friends. When you break it down like that, doesn’t it sound like a fun time?
Try not to be too uptight or you’ll ruin your own night. You’re there to taste new wines. Enjoy it!
Are You Excited for Your First Wine Tasting Event?
A good wine tasting event is a lot of fun! You get to try new things, learn a lot about wine, and hang out with your friends. What’s not to love?
Try to remember that while this is a classy event, it’s not much different than any other outing with alcohol. Just try not to get sloshed.
To learn more about making the most of your fun events while traveling, visit the rest of our site!
