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Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Wine-tasting
A reader of Uncorked poses this timely and excellent question:
How do you start out tasting wine on a Saturday morning and not wreck the rest of your day by getting blottoed?
Here are some suggestions from a savvy veteran:
� Whether it’s four or five wines available for sampling or 16-plus as there will be at both Arrows on Saturday, be picky when choosing which wines to try. There is absolutely no pressure or expectation on the part of the pourer or anyone else that you will try “the full boat� of everything offered.
� Every wine-tasting venue offers a dump-bucket (or they should) for tasters to discard the remnants of their glass, and again, no one will “look at you funny� for using it. If you don’t like a wine, dump it and move on. Even if you DO like a wine, but have tasted enough of it and want to try others, DUMP IT and move on. We here in the heartland were raised to clean our plates and not “waste� what we’ve paid for, but that concept simply doesn’t apply here. If you finish every sample and are sampling many, the only thing you’re wasting is yourself.
� Wine tastings almost always offer something to snack on – cheese and crackers, usually, and occasionally something more substantial. The eats are free. Take advantage of them.
� It’s time-honored advice because it works: drink water. Before, during, after.
These suggestions combined with designated drivers and other common-sense precautions will help make for a safe and enjoyable wine-tasting experience.
An afternoon nap doesn’t hurt, either.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Comments
By Barb
September 24, 2005 9:45 AM | Link to this
I think that it helps to set a moderate pace for wine tasting events. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
By patty
September 23, 2005 11:24 AM | Link to this
Great suggestions Mark! The water tip cannot be overemphasized. Know your limit and stop drinking before you reach it. Don’t begin tasting on an empty stomach.
By Mark Fisher
September 23, 2005 7:52 AM | Link to this
If you can think of other helpful tips, please post a comment!