| Most tasting rooms are similar in the way they | | | | Schramsberg, the tour group gathered in a small dining |
| operate. When entering the tasting room, a tasting | | | | room that had three tables set for a group of people. |
| room staff member will greet you. Walk up to the | | | | Our tour filled two of the tables. The wine consultant |
| tasting bar and say you would like to taste some of | | | | talked about the sparkling wines and then served us at |
| the wines. Some wineries charge for tastings and | | | | the table. This afforded a great opportunity to talk |
| others do not. Occasionally a souvenir glass is included | | | | about the wine with the other people at your table. |
| when you pay a tasting fee. You may have a choice | | | | This intimate approach occurred after group tours at |
| to taste all the wines you would like on their list, or to | | | | Pine Ridge Winery and Quintessa in California. |
| choose a certain number of wines to taste, such as | | | | Occasionally the winemaker will be on hand and may |
| five wines. Let the winery consultant guide your tasting. | | | | give a tour and conduct your tasting. Our most |
| We have experienced consultants who pour the wine | | | | memorable tour was at The Lenz Winery on Long |
| and tell us what we are about to smell and taste. | | | | Island in New York. The winemaker had us taste his |
| Others will ask us what we observe about the wines. | | | | wines from the stainless steel tanks. He asked us |
| However, the latter is less frequent. There is a certain | | | | what we thought and more often than not agreed with |
| risk that winery staff takes if they ask your opinion. I | | | | us. His tour proceeded to the barrel room and with |
| recall a look of disappointment when one tasting | | | | thief in hand had us taste the wine from some of the |
| consultant asked me what I thought a wine tasted like | | | | barrels. Tasting wine from the barrels or tanks can |
| and I replied, "Leather." The consultant thought it tasted | | | | give you an idea if the wine is ready or what more |
| like coffee. I do not drink coffee and now I have a | | | | aging will do to it. The winemaker at Prince Michel |
| sneaky feeling that it must taste like leather. If you go | | | | Vineyards and Winery in Virginia has special barrel |
| to a tasting room on a less busy day (usually in the | | | | tastings. He discusses his wines and the stage they |
| middle of the week), you will enjoy the opportunity to | | | | are at when you taste them. One of our favorite |
| talk about the wine, winery and vineyards. Most tasting | | | | tastings was during the tour at Del Dotto Winery in |
| room staff members are knowledgeable about the | | | | California. The tour led our group through the over one |
| wines they are pouring. A mere one percent of the | | | | hundred year old candle-lit tunnels. Our guide stopped |
| wineries we have visited had a staff member who | | | | along the way and had us taste wines from the |
| admitted that he just helps on the weekend and pours | | | | barrels. If we liked the wine, we took a ticket attached |
| the wine. He told us he did not know anything about | | | | to the barrel. After the tour, we could order any of the |
| the wines he was pouring. Most of the time, you will | | | | wines we tasted. The wine would be bottled and |
| stand at the tasting bar. Some tasting rooms have bar | | | | shipped to many destinations. Visiting winery tasting |
| stools next to the tasting bar. This is a very welcome | | | | rooms is a great activity. Try to limit the number of |
| addition if you are tasting at your third winery of the | | | | tasting rooms you visit in one day. We try to visit two |
| day. Some wineries use tables for wine tastings. At | | | | or three in a day. Tasting rooms are less crowded on |
| McGregor Vineyard and Winery along Keuka Lake in | | | | the weekdays. Call ahead or check their times on the |
| New York, you will sit at a table. The wine consultant | | | | Internet before you start your adventure. |
| will bring a plate of bite-sized food and will discuss the | | | | Terry Sullivan is a retired educator and wine enthusiast |
| wine list with you. We also had a "sit down and be | | | | who designed the website Wine Trail Traveler. He |
| served" experience at Gloria Ferrer in California. The | | | | looks forward to relating his travels about wineries to |
| "sit down at a table" theme continued at Schramsberg | | | | website visitors. |
| in California. After a tour of the caves at | | | | |