Reposted: Don't be scared of a little wine tasting by: Liz MacGahan

To view the article on Discover Yamhill Valley website click below:
Don't be scared of a little wine tasting

Don't be scared of a little wine tasting
By LIZ MACGAHAN
For Discover Yamhill Valley

Go ahead … spit it out!

No really. Wine tasting novices may find this advice suspect, since polite people are told not to spit in public. Then, suddenly, a situation arises in which it’s expected. Uncomfortable, isn’t it?

But spittoons and dump buckets are part of the tasting room experience.

New to wine? Tasting rooms are a great place to learn. It’s a welcoming experience, it’s fun and ever so delicious. Never been? Chances are, you aren’t the only newbie there. The people who pour in Yamhill Valley are here to help you get comfortable.

Allan Carter of Domaine Serene wants you to ask tons of questions. In fact, the Domaine Serene tasting room is set up to encourage this, with a smattering of tables instead of a single bar, giving tasters better access to the pourers. Those people are there to tell you about the wine, so ask away.

Becky Rochester of Willamette Valley Vineyards offers an important piece of advice: “Be adventurous.” The purpose of a tasting room is to have “your perception of wine educated.” Try everything that’s on offer, she says. For example, don’t turn down a flight of Rieslings because you expect them to be sweet; not all of them are.

But if what you’re offered isn’t something you’re dying to drink a lot of, dump it out. She won’t mind. Neither will Linda Lenyo of Twelve.

“We’re really, truly not offended by people using the dump and spit buckets,” Lenyo says. “We respect that everyone’s tastes are unique.” She would rather you walk out of her tasting room on Third Street in McMinnville thinking, “that was fun but not for me,” than leave feeling uncomfortable.

Maria Stuart of R. Stuart and Co. Wine Bar echoes the pro-dumping-out-wine sentiment. “It is definitely, completely appropriate. Wine professionals spit when they taste,” she says.

Sometimes those tasting room pours can look a little generous. Wasteful though it may seem, leave your glass on the bar and let ’em pour. You can dump it out later if you can’t finish. As Stuart explains, “you need to get enough wine in the glass to get the sensory experience. Take a moment, enjoy it, and pour the rest out” if you need to. It takes between one and two ounces in the glass to give a taster a fair idea of what the grape has to offer.

Comfortable with the idea of dumping out wine? Ready to find out what the 2008 and 2009 wines are like? Good. Let’s move on. Yamhill Valley wine professionals generously shared their tasting room advice at right.

Do
• Do realize the person pouring may know a lot about that wine. People are often “pleasantly surprised by the fact that they’re talking to people who are intimately connected to the wine they’re pouring,” Lenyo says.
• Do call ahead, particularly if you’re bringing a large group.
• Do buy a bottle if the tasting is free. Don’t be shy to pick the cheapest one. Spring for about $15. If you’re in a group, it’s a real bargain. If you were paying for a tasting, you’d be expected to shell out $5-20 a head.
• Do bring a notepad and pen. Most wineries will give you a tasting list and something to write with, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
• Do have a designated driver – because you’ll likely be offered 4-6 wines to sample.
• Do skip the lipstick. It’s really hard to clean from the rim of the glass. Plus, you look so pretty without it.
• Do ask questions. As Maria Stuart says, “if you know nothing about wine, you should feel comfortable asking questions.” Allan Carter echoes the sentiment: “The person pouring isn’t doing it for the money. They’re doing it because they love wine and love to talk about it.”

Don't
• Don’t wear perfume, cologne or any strong fragrances. Other tasters may be sensitive to smells and it could kill their experience.
• Don’t bring along coffee. You just won’t get the full flavor of the wine.
• Don’t chew gum.
• Don’t smoke. Sure, sure – we’re worried about your health. But, really, it’s about your tastebuds.
• Don’t be offended if you’re asked to show ID.
• Don’t pull away a glass to prevent a pour, or pop your glass upward to stop a pour in progress. It’s really hard to pour wine into a moving target. And that’s such a nice shirt. Let’s not ruin it.