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fioribianchi · 04-07-2005, 12:31 AM,

I live in Italy. I have some friends coming over from the States who would like me to take them wine tasting.
I took some people last year also from the States and they were shocked by the cost even though the two wines tasted were excellent. They paid for the two bottles they had consumed but didn't buy anything else.
I thought that wine tasting was free and then one usually bought at least a bottle or two even just to be polite.
Please someone give me an idea of the procedure so that I can tell my friends in advance what to expect.

wondersofwine · 04-07-2005, 08:08 AM,

Welcome to the board.
Maybe Foodie or Roberto can answer this as they have traveled in Italy more than I have.
I'm not sure of the customs at Italian vintners'.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 04-07-2005).]

wineguruchgo · 04-07-2005, 08:13 AM,

Hello Fioribianchi,

Welcome to the wineboard! A wine tasting here in the US has basically the same standard. If you taste, you should buy if you liked it. Yet here you will pay approx. $5.00 for a 1-2oz glass of wine. Then you decide if you want to buy a bottle or two. No one goes through an entire bottle at a tasting.

I think one thing that has to be taken into consideration here is the shrinking US Dollar. It might cost them 2x as much because of the exchange rate.

If the custom there is to pour an entire glass I would warn them before you go that it's going to be expensive and let them decide if they want to do it.

fioribianchi · 04-07-2005, 09:40 AM,

Thanks a lot for the welcome and the reply. O.K. So you pay for the glass and then usually buy something.
My friends went through two bottles. There were four of them and I joined in. The wine was served in ballons too and we got through it quite quickly.(?) and I must say it was excellent!
So that's why it seemed so expensive. One of the wines was the famous SciacchettrÃ of the Cinque Terre so that explains it really. Now I understand the procedure I'll know what to expect next time. Thanks again.

[This message has been edited by fioribianchi (edited 04-07-2005).]

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