How to Behave at a Wine Tasting

An invitation to a wine tasting is a lovely thing. Whether it takes place at a vineyard, a wine shop or a friend's dining room, it promises good company, new flavors and a chance to learn. It also comes with a set of unspoken customs that can make a guest feel unsure.

The good news is that none of them are difficult. Wine tasting etiquette is built on the same foundations as all good manners: consideration for others, respect for the host and a willingness to enjoy yourself without excess. Here is how to carry yourself with ease.

Before You Arrive

Dress neatly and comfortably, taking your cue from the setting. A winery visit in the afternoon calls for smart casual clothing, while an evening tasting at a private home may be a little more polished. Choose shoes that suit walking on gravel or through cellars if the event includes a tour.

Avoid perfume, cologne and strongly scented lotions. Aroma is a large part of tasting, and a heavy fragrance can interfere with your own experience and that of the guests around you.

If the tasting requires a reservation, arrive on time. Hosts often plan the order of wines and the pace of the event carefully, and late arrivals disrupt the flow.

Holding and Tasting the Wine

Hold your glass by the stem rather than the bowl. This keeps the wine from warming in your hand and leaves the glass free of smudges, so the color can be seen clearly.

Tasting follows a simple rhythm. Look at the wine against a light background, give it a gentle swirl, take a moment to smell it and then take a small sip. Let it rest on your palate before swallowing or spitting. There is no need for dramatic gestures or loud slurping; quiet attention is perfectly correct.

Between wines, a sip of water or a plain cracker helps refresh the palate. If food is offered, take modest portions and do not fill up before the tasting is finished. Pours at a tasting are small for a reason. It is not polite to ask for a larger pour or to request refills of a favorite unless the host offers.

The Spittoon Is Your Friend

Using the spittoon, or dump bucket, is entirely proper and is often a sign of a thoughtful taster. It allows you to sample many wines while keeping a clear head. Lean in, spit discreetly and move on.

You may also pour out the rest of a sample you do not wish to finish. Doing so is not an insult to the winemaker. If you plan to drive afterward, arrange a designated driver or transport in advance, and never feel pressured to drink more than you wish.

Conversation and Courtesy

Listen when the host or winemaker describes each wine. They have often spent years on what is in your glass, and their stories add meaning to the tasting.

Share your impressions honestly but kindly. You do not need technical vocabulary; describing a wine as bright, smooth or reminiscent of berries is perfectly fine. If you do not enjoy a wine, a gracious comment such as "this is not quite to my taste" is far better than a grimace.

Do not monopolize the host's attention or try to show off your knowledge. A tasting is a shared experience, and the best guests make room for others to ask questions and offer opinions.

Leaving a Gracious Impression

If the tasting took place at a winery or shop, buying a bottle is a kind gesture, though it is not required. If you were a guest at a private event, a short thank you note or message the next day is always appreciated.

Above all, remember that wine tasting is meant to be a pleasure. Approach it with curiosity, good manners and moderation, and you will be a welcome guest wherever the next bottle is opened.