wine tasting etiquette question

[newsguy]

i'm going to write a column on how people should act at a commercial wine tasting and what the proprietors should be providing so the experience can be maximized for all. any of you have a pet peeve or an idea that i might not think about that you think folks must know?

[TheEngineer]

A personal pet peeve.

(1) When the person behind the counter spends a significant amount of time with one person/group and does not make an effort to get to those quietly waiting behind for a sample. There is a fine line between good service and arrogance.

(2) Those participants that like one wine specifically and will sample, then ask for a refill, only to then get back in line again and again and again and etc. This is a sample folks, not a freebie.

[wondersofwine]

I like to have water readily available (I prefer non-carbonated, non-mineral). Need something to pour or spit in. Decent glassware is a bonus. Bland food like white bread or raw cauliflower to cleanse the palate. A listing of the wines to be tasted with vintage, producer, all the essentials and price. If moving from table to table or booth to booth (not seated and wines poured in front of you), people should move on after receiving the pour and exchanging brief remarks with the pourer--no blocking traffic and hogging the vintner or sales rep.
At a more serious tasting, data sheets on the wine are nice, but usually just a business card or brief brochure about visiting the winery, etc. would do. Sufficient chairs or benches should be placed around the room so that consumers can take a break from making the rounds, or juggle food and wine glass without creating a catastrophe.

[Kcwhippet]

I really hate to be anyway near someone with a strong perfume. Totally kills the nose.

[hotwine]

Methinks you guys have given newsie enough material for several columns.

[Drew]

Here's my three as echoed above.

Keith, I've been to a bunch, outside and inside, and I've got one coming up this Sunday. #1. Stop the pushing and shoving and people please don't hog the table front with fru-fru wine talk with the pourer. A question/comment or two and move on. #2. Learn how to spit INTO the bucket rather than somewhere in the vicinity [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/eek.gif[/img] #3. And finally do SPIT, I've seen far too many drunks driving from a wine tasting. Good subject for an article.
Drew

[Thomas]

newsguy, I just wrote an article: 15 Things to remember for a Wine Tatsing.

Some of what was said above is in the article. I stress, from the first point to the last, "get out of the way."

I have diminished my number of trips to wine tastings (going to one in NYCity today, however) because I have had it with the bad habits of insensitive drunks--even at trade tastings.

[hotwine]

I don't go to them at all any more.... too many people competing with each other for the most number of "free hits" they can tally before they reach the knee-walking stage.

[dananne]

Personally, I find that, all too often, there is no place provided to spit. It's a pet peeve of mine. Also, like WOW, I like to have the ready availability of water.

[Kcwhippet]

Long ago learned to bring our own water and palate cleansers (wine crackers). You can't always depend on tasting room staff to have them handy. We also bring a Slurpee size cup as our own spit bucket - just in case. We're not yet as sophisticated as Tom Hill (for those who know him).

[newsguy]

well, it sure seems that most of the folks on this and the wine spectator board have peeves about tastings that match my own. i ended up breaking this down into two columns, the first for the hosts and the second for the tasters. they can be found at:
http://www.tampabay.com/grubandclub/story.cfm?storyid=116292

and
http://www.tampabay.com/grubandclub/story.cfm?storyid=117757

when reading, keep in mind that i write for fairly mainstream, youngish audience.

and thanks for the input.

[Innkeeper]

Excellent articles Keith; and, again sorry we missed you.

[winoweenie]

Well written and concise Mr. St. Clair. Shanken should be calling enny day now. WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[wondersofwine]

Well written.

[Kcwhippet]

Now, that's some really good stuff. Those articles should be posted permanently somewhere on the the Board where they can be easily found and read by the Novices (and probably some of the Experts).

[Jackie]

Newsguy,

Do we have permission to post your articles on this site? It would be a great help to newcomers and many others.

Jackie
webmaster
WINES.COM

[newsguy]

hi jackie. let me talk to my editor. i know typically they only let other sites post links, but let me see what i can work out.