Tasting wine at cellar doors is a great way to discover new wines that you love and learn more about wine. When I was just starting out enjoying wine, I found going to cellar doors was the best way to expand my knowledge. It gives you the opportunity to try different varieties to work out what you like. But it also gives you a chance to learn about tasting wine, the winemaking process and ask plenty of questions!
But tasting wine at cellar doors can be a bit daunting if you haven’t been to many. It can seem like something only the pros can do. And you might feel like asking questions makes you seem silly. So I’ve pulled together five tips to help you visit cellar doors so you can feel confident going out to see the wide and wonderful world of wineries.
Want tips for planning a wine getaway? Check out this post.
1. Stay hydrated and don’t visit hungry
It’s no fun tasting wine on an empty stomach. Make sure you have a big breakfast before you head off to the wineries to make sure your belly is full. And bring snacks if you know you get hungry! Some wineries will have restaurants or cheese platters you can try at the cellar door, but it’s always good to start the day with a full stomach. It will make sure you have a better time overall!
It’s also important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Make sure you bring along a water bottle to stay hydrated between tastings. Most cellar doors will also have water on hand for you while you are tasting so make sure you drink some in between. This will help you try and avoid a nasty headache in the morning!
2. Avoid wearing perfume
It’s always nice to wear perfume, but avoid it if you’re heading out for a day of wine tastings. A big part of tasting wine is noticing the aroma of the wine, and this can be hard to do if you’re wearing perfume. It impacts not just you, but if it is a strong one it can impact the tasters around you too! Do everyone a favour and leave the perfume for after the winery tour.
3. Listen to your server and ask questions
The best way to learn more about the wine is to listen and ask plenty of questions when you’re at the cellar door. The server at the cellar door is there to take you through the wines, not just pour them. In my experience, they love serving customers who are genuinely interested in learning more about their wines and want to learn more. There are plenty of customers they serve all day who just want to drink the wine, so taking an interest not only shows them respect for their craft but also helps you. If you want to learn more about the wine you’re tasting, listening and learning while you do it will help so much. Plus it makes the wine tasting way more fun!
4. You don’t have to drink all the tastings
You may have seen buckets at wine tastings where you can pour your wine into. It might seem like pouring your wine out is a waste, or that it means you don’t like the wine. You might think that it could offend the server if you tip the wine out. But the spitoons are there for a reason, and you won’t offend anyone by tipping it out. I promise!
Often the server will give you a larger tasting to ensure that you can get the full tasting experience of the wine. But they don’t expect you to drink it all. In fact, it is encouraged to use the spittoon after tasting the wine. If you taste all the wines, your palate is going to get too tired, and you won’t be able to taste the wines effectively. Also, if you’re driving, it’s important not to drink too much. So make sure you use the spittoons and don’t be embarrassed to.
5. Make sure you grab a bottle or two to take home
Visiting the wineries is a great way to find new wines that you love. Many wineries offer their tastings with a small tasting fee to cover the cost of the tasting. But the best way you can support the winery is by purchasing their wine. Every winery you visit will appreciate you purchasing their wine, and it goes a long way to help support their business. Wineries are not cheap to run, so every sale counts. Whether you’re buying one bottle or a whole case, buying a bottle is a great way to help support our Aussie wine industry. If you needed any other encouragement, not only does buying a wine help you remember your trip, but it also often means your tasting fee is waived.
In summary: 5 tips for tasting wine at cellar doors
I hope these 5 tips for wine tasting at cellar doors help to make visiting our wineries a little less daunting. These tips are simply guides to give you an idea of things to consider. But the biggest tip I can give is to have fun! Visiting wineries is so much fun, and such a unique experience. So get planning your next trip!