Over the years I’ve visited about 75 wineries, and I’ve been able to observe a lot of other visitors – from excited first-timers, to bachelorette parties, to seasoned wine connoisseurs. Different people visit with different expectations, but we all want to have fun, right?

I’ve also had some very frank discussions with winery tasting room professionals about what behaviors delight them and what aggravates them. 

Wineries are communal spaces. Unless you’ve booked a private experience, you’re going to be sharing the space. And any time space is shared, norms must be established so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience.

So here are some dos and don’ts to make your winery visit a great one – for you and everyone else around you.

Do:

• Check out the winery website before you go. This will give you a lot of information on what is permitted (dogs? food?) and what isn’t (children?) The website will probably also give you a lot of information about what to expect when you visit and the various wines you’ll be able to taste and purchase.
• Know and observe the reservation policy, especially for larger (usually more than 6 people) groups. Some wineries are “reservations only” regardless of how many people. And when you make a reservation, try as hard as you can to be on time. Making a reservation means that the winery is holding space for you – space that would otherwise be taken by other guests.
• Be mindful that you are not the only guest(s). Monopolizing the tasting room staff, having loud conversations, or playing music can negatively affect the experience of other wine lovers.
• Pace yourself, especially if you’re visiting more than one winery in a day. There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious: Nobody likes a sloppy drunk person. Period. The second is not so obvious. If you’re serious about tasting wines and discovering what the winery(ies) produce, you want your taste buds to be in tip top shape. Using a spit bucket early on helps keep you focused for those later sips.
• Engage with the tasting room professionals. Ask questions. Learn something about the wine you’re tasting. The staff in tasting rooms are sometimes scripted in what they share about the wines when conducting tastings. But often their knowledge doesn’t end there. And I have yet to meet somebody working at a winery who doesn’t love to talk about wine!
• Be open to trying new things. You might be surprised and find a new favorite!

Don’t:

• Wear a lot of cologne or perfume. Strong scents, no matter how pleasant, can interfere with the aromas of the wine. This affects not only you, but those around you too.
• Use your visit as a time to show off what you know about wine. Consider it a learning experience…for you. When you start asking questions and having a conversation with the tasting room professionals, they will get a sense of your wine knowledge and will respond accordingly. Believe me, holding back a bit on your own wine expertise will actually make the conversation much more enjoyable.
• Bring outside alcohol. In some states this is a law. Often bringing your own food is okay (again, check the web site or call about this first) but other alcohol is a no go.
• Overly criticize the wines. The winemaker is proud of their product. While you might not like it, that is your personal preference. Spit/pour buckets are always available, and using them is perfectly fine. Saying, “that’s awful!” while pouring the wine out is not!
• Drive if you’ve consumed too much. Bring a designated driver or hire a car service for your safety as well as everyone else’s on the roads.

I’ve met so many wonderful people at wineries – both winery staff and guests. Everyone there wants to have a great time, and being respectful and using common sense is the surest way to achieve that.

Now that I’ve got you thinking, I’m curious. What dos and don’ts have you observed? Leave me a comment.