• As you enter the tasting room head for the tasting bar. A host will greet you and get you started with wine glasses and explain what wines are available for tasting and if there are any tasting fees.

• Tasting rooms vary from the very elaborate to a simple table set up in the winemaking area. It usually pays to look around at the cellar door signage: special tastings or offerings, a list of awards and other publicity, descriptions of the wines, what else is available to tasters.

• White wines are tasted first, followed by red wines, and then dessert wines.

• Taste each wine carefully and savor each sip. See our section on the proper way to taste wine.
• Most wineries will have a sheet of tasting notes. Read the tasting notes as you taste and see if you notice any of the aromas or flavors listed in the notes.

• It’s okay to skip any of the wines on the tasting list. Some people just want to taste the reds. Some may be interested in tasting only certain varietals of wine.

• Normally you would not ask for a second taste of one particular wine unless you indicate that you are interested in purchasing the wine.

• You do not have to drink all the wine in your glass. Toss the unwanted wine in your glass into the bucket provided for this purpose.

• If water is provided, use it to clear your palate or to rinse your glass. Rinsing the glass is a good idea when the tasting moves from whites to reds or to dessert wines.

• Sometimes a neutral food will be provided, such as plain crackers. The purpose of the food is to clear the palate after tasting each particular wine.

• Some tasting rooms will require that you pay a fee to taste the wine. Some wineries apply this fee to a purchase. Others might include a souvenir glass with the fee. Some tasting rooms have a two tier fee, one for the main line of wines and one for reserve wines

• Having consulted the tasting list – and talked it over with the cellar door staff..