The Art of Wine Tasting
Jake Ellerbrock '02
Issue date: 2/13/01 Section: Diversions
The Finger Lakes District wineries are among the many wonders of the Ithaca region. If you take advantage of this local attraction while at Cornell or if you visit wineries elsewhere, you may have questions about choosing a winery or about tasting room etiquette. Here are a few suggestions:
Choosing a winery
Wineries come in all flavors, just like their wines. Some wineries are pretentious and others are friendly. I find that the friendlier and more down-to-earth the tasting room staff are (and therefore the winery), the more enjoyable the experience. However, friendly wineries tend to be out of the way. I call this the dirt-road theory. If you are intimidated by the tasting experience or are looking for a casual, informative conversation about wine, then I recommend finding a nice little out-of-the-way winery. "Off the beaten path" wineries also tend to be less crowded, so the tasting-room staff is less busy and therefore more helpful and willing to talk about the wines offered.
Once you're inside...
Tasting-room scenes can range from that of a ghost town to that of a stock-trading floor. In either case, don't be shy. Just sidle up to the bar and ask what they are pouring that day. You will probably receive one glass and they will probably just pour a little bit in the bottom. No need to feel cheated. It shouldn't take much for you to tell if you like the wine or not. Remember: The winery is trying to sell you some wine. That said, most wineries will pour another taste upon request if you are still unsure of whether you like the wine.
Once you have some wine in your glass, feel free to swirl, spit, smell, gurgle, or swallow your wine. It's all okay. If you choose to spit (a good idea if you are driving), look for the spittoon on the bar. No, it's not a vase.
I hope this helps you in your next wine tasting adventure. Until next time, cheers!
Choosing a winery
Wineries come in all flavors, just like their wines. Some wineries are pretentious and others are friendly. I find that the friendlier and more down-to-earth the tasting room staff are (and therefore the winery), the more enjoyable the experience. However, friendly wineries tend to be out of the way. I call this the dirt-road theory. If you are intimidated by the tasting experience or are looking for a casual, informative conversation about wine, then I recommend finding a nice little out-of-the-way winery. "Off the beaten path" wineries also tend to be less crowded, so the tasting-room staff is less busy and therefore more helpful and willing to talk about the wines offered.
Once you're inside...
Tasting-room scenes can range from that of a ghost town to that of a stock-trading floor. In either case, don't be shy. Just sidle up to the bar and ask what they are pouring that day. You will probably receive one glass and they will probably just pour a little bit in the bottom. No need to feel cheated. It shouldn't take much for you to tell if you like the wine or not. Remember: The winery is trying to sell you some wine. That said, most wineries will pour another taste upon request if you are still unsure of whether you like the wine.
Once you have some wine in your glass, feel free to swirl, spit, smell, gurgle, or swallow your wine. It's all okay. If you choose to spit (a good idea if you are driving), look for the spittoon on the bar. No, it's not a vase.
I hope this helps you in your next wine tasting adventure. Until next time, cheers!