do i have to be rich to go to a winery for wine tasting???
i havent been to any winery…pls give me some tips thanx
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It’s actually an inexpensive way to spend an entire day. Typically, you pay one price and get to sample many wines. The portions are obviously not large but you can get snockered if you are not careful! It all adds up, if you drink 1/4 c. of 8 or so different wines.
Usually, the wine glass is yours to keep as well.
You let them know which wine you want to sample. Start with the whites and move to the reds, never visa versa.
You sample it. It you like it, drink the entire sample. If not, there is a container for you to empty the wine into.
There are also usually small bland crackers on the counter. Eat one of those between tastings to cleanse your palate so you can appreciate the next wine.
My hubby and I love to do this in the fall. Just spend the day driving, looking at the fall leaves, and sampling wine.
I been in one in Niagara and I’m not rich! You take a tour sample wine and if you like buy a bottle !
Nope, you just need to show up…
and it helps to look interested when they talk about the history of the winery, or a story about the founder, or some long drawn explanation about varieties of grape, or how nutrients in the soil and weather/climate affect the flavor of the wine.
what a perfect outing on a beautiful fall day…..to answer your question, no you do not have to be rich. The winery you choose will let you taste some of their wines, be it red or white…and if you like a particular vintage you will be able to buy this one right at their boutique.
Their is no obligation to buy anything.
Also at this time of year the grapes are ready for harvest and sometimes there is a tour of the vineyard.
Most wineries also have a restaurant, wine bar or coffee shop.
It’s interesting and makes for a lovely afternoon with some of your friends.
If you take a tour then you get to taste all the wines they have to offer (except for the really expensive ones). Then if you are lucky (like I was) you will get to have some fine cheese for a really good price like us regular people.
There is sometimes a small fee to pay for testing, depending on the winery. All of the ones I’ve been to, though, will let you sample for free.
It’s really the only way to know for sure if you like a certain type of wine. And, sometimes knowing the background of a particular wine, is fun. Useless knowledge is a lot of fun. lol
:o)
There is definitely a myth that wine tasting is for the riches.
The reality is that wine is a very common hobby for many people. While it can become a very expensive hobby (as I have found out), it can be nicely budgeted and lots of fun.
I found visiting wineries is one of the most fun things to do when learning about wine. It is about trying a wine at where it is made, visiting the actual vines and grapes, see the barrels that the wine is stored, talk to the people that actually participated in the wine making process, and experiencing the whole dimension of wine. Like what was said in the movie "Sideway", visiting wineries and seeing those people is one of the essentials of appreciating wine…
"I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it’s an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I’d opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it’s constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks, like your ‘61. And then it begins its steady, inevitable decline"
When you decide to go to the wine country, it is very important for you to do some homework. First, you need to know whether a winery requires appointment or not. Some major wineries, especially those with expensive wines, will require appointment long ahead of time. Secondly, you will need to check the price of wine tasting there. Some requires a fee as high as $50-60, but most will commonly charge $5-10 per person, which will be reimbursed if you purchase a bottle of wine after tasting. Third, google ahead to learn a bit more about what the winery might be known for and what might be highly desired, since some wines are available only at the winery and not at any other stores.
Major wine tourist destinations include Napa, Sonoma, Central Coast, Oregon, Washington, as well as New York Finger Lakes, Central Texas, and Canadian Ontario and Vancouver area. For Napa, it is much more accessible than most people realized. There are plenty of flights to San Francisco and Oakland from all major US cities. A rental car and 1 hour drive up north from either airport will take you to wine country. There are plenty of motels and hotels there, as cheap as $60-90 per night and as expensive as $500 per night. Most restaurants are very reasonable as far as prices, and you can buy some food at various grocery stores and deli to save more money. The most expensive part of the trip will be the wine purchasing. A 3 day long weekend at Napa for a couple may cost, per person, $200-400 for flight, $100-250 for board, $100-150 for food, $100 total for car rental, and possibly $50-200 for wine tasting (depending on the number of wineries). It is not outrageous, considering you can spend as much as, if not more, money at New York City.
Think about going and have fun
Not at all…it’s not expensive at all. Most wineries charge somewhere between 5 and 15 dollars and you can sample 5-8 of their wines, sometimes more. Every place is different, but they’re all fun, friendly, helpful. If you know nothing about wine, just tell them and they’re extra helpful. If you know a little, there’s always something more to learn.
If you have the opportunity, definitely do it…any winery. Then, it only gets easier.
no..you dont have to be rich..but it doesnt hurt to be pompous and condescending !!
Admiral_slick: That’s funny.
No, you don’t need to be rich. Just go, try to taste the differences the winery will say exist, and have fun.
Also remember, tastings are promotion and sales events (gimmicks). Try to taste as much as you can for the least price, and not buy a bottle of overpriced wine at the end. You’ll get an education, maybe feel tingly all over, and laugh knowing your money is still in your pocket and not theirs.
It’s difficult to be rich working for wine tasting unless you are a winery boss. I am not rich enough, but I can give you an address for advice. There are many rich men at millionairematch and you can go there for some advice.
You don’t need to be rich to go wine tasting at wineries. In California there are wineries throughout the state and many of them let you sample their wines for free.
Napa is the most expensive area to taste wine. The only free tasting room that I know of in Napa is V. Sattui in St. Helena. The typical tasting fees in Napa range from $10-$20 per person. However, you can print complimentary tasting coupons or 2 for the price of 1 coupons for some of the wineries at http://www.cheers2wine.com/free-wine-tasting-coupons.html. There are probably similar coupons in other states as well.
Wine tasting at wineries is the best way to sample lots of wine and discover which wines you like best. The people in the tasting room will teach you about their wines and want you to have a good time. They are usually very friendly and helpful.