Wine tastings are an excellent opportunity to sample different types of wines to become more in tune with your preferences. If you’ve never been to a tasting before, you probably don’t know what to expect or what you should do to prepare. That’s why we are sharing our top five tips so your first wine tasting experience goes off without a hitch.
1. Choose the Right Outfit
When going on a group wine tasting you want to plan an outfit that is going to be appropriate for the day’s activities. You may want to dress nice so you can look good in pictures, but there are some pieces that you’re going to want to leave in your closet. You want to keep in mind any walking you’ll be doing like venturing through the vineyards or standing for long periods of time. This means ditch the heels and make sure you’re wearing something comfortable. Niagara on the Lake has its own micro-climate due to the escarpment but it can be changeable so be sure to check the weather forecast. Also, you may want to avoid white, trust us, a red wine stain is never fun.
2. Don’t Wear Strong Scents
Did you know that 80% of our taste comes from our sense of smell? This is why in order to fully experience and appreciate the aromas and flavour of the wine you are trying during your wine tour, you want to avoid wearing any strong fragrances that will interfere with your wine tasting experience. This is also a courtesy to others to make sure you aren’t overpowering anyone’s senses with an overly strong perfume or cologne.
3. Learn the Lingo
You don’t need to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy a wine tasting, but learning a few commonly used words and phrases will help enhance your experience. You’ll be able to efficiently communicate with the person serving you, enhance your understanding, and maybe impress the group. Review our blog post on Learning the Lingo to learn 10 wine terms you can use at your tasting.
4. Hold Your Glass Correctly
It is important to hold your glass by the stem, not just to avoid fingerprints, but to prevent the heat from your hands from warming the wine. Before you take a sip, gently swirl your glass to increase the amount of oxygen in your wine which enhances the flavour.
5. Ask Questions
Wine tastings are not only an opportunity to try something new but also a chance to learn about the wine, the vineyard it came from, winemaking or even aged wines. Asking questions can help you select the best wines for your taste, and maybe provide some ideas for pairings if you buy a bottle to bring home. If you don’t know where to start, check out this blog post for some ideas.
We hope these tips help you to get the most out of your first wine tasting. To get a chance to taste wines from some of the best wineries Niagara has to offer, contact Niagara Vintage Wine Tours today to book an unforgettable tour through Niagara Wine Country guided by one of our experts. With over 15 years of experience hosting wine tours in Niagara on the Lake , we’re committed to making every tour extra special for our guests.
