Whether it’s a one-day tasting event with local wineries or a multi-day extravaganza with celebrity chefs and grand food and wine tastings, wine festivals are a fun way to learn about wine and discover wines you might never have tried before. And with approximately 700 wine festivals in the United States each year, chances are there’s at least one in your area.

Wine festivals give us wine enthusiasts an opportunity to taste dozens of wines, meet producers, and discover new wines and wineries.

A wine festival can sometimes be a little overwhelming for first-timers. But a little preparation and following a few basic guidelines can help make the experience even more enjoyable.

Create a Plan

The first step in preparing for a wine festival is to create a plan. Start by doing a little bit of research. Look at the festival website to review the list of wineries that will be there. Then identify between four and six that you’re most interested in visiting. Perhaps these are wineries that you’ve heard about and have a good reputation. Or they might be wineries that aren’t easily accessible in your area. When you get to the festival, try to visit the booths of those wineries first.

Next, set realistic expectations. Understand that unless there’s only a handful of wineries you probably aren’t going to taste everything. In fact, you most likely won’t enjoy yourself, or the next morning, if you try to taste it all. Remember, this is an opportunity to learn and discover, so focusing on quality over quantity is important.

If you’re planning on buying wine at the festival, set a budget. It’s easy to get carried away after a couple hours of tasting wine, so sticking to a budget ensures that you won’t be sorry that you spent too much later.

Finally, set a goal or two. Depending on your interests, you might want to:

• Learn more about a specific grape variety
• Find new wines for your collection
• Meet winery owners and/or winemakers

A plan helps you spend more time discovering wine and less time just wandering around.

Pace Yourself

This might be the most important, and most easily forgotten, guideline. With all the excitement and engaging winery staff ready to pour their wines, it is easy to get carried away and drink too much, too quickly. But these tactics will help remind you that a wine festival is a marathon, not a sprint.

Remember that it is ok to spit. Professional wine tasters do it all the time. Spitting the wine after you’ve tasted it, rather than swallowing it, will help preserve not only your palate, but also your judgement. And don’t worry about offending the people pouring the wines. They expect it. That’s why they put out a spit bucket.

Eat and stay hydrated. Don’t drink on an empty stomach, so eat before you go. Many wine festivals also have food, so take advantage of that. Bring a refillable water bottle if allowed and alternate drinking water and wine. 

Finally, it’s ok to take breaks. In addition to offering food, many wine festivals also have entertainment. So give your palate and senses a rest every now and then by enjoying some water while watching or listening to the entertainment.

Just keep in mind that the goal is to taste wine, not consume as much as possible.

Have Conversations

A wine festival can be about so much more than the wine. There are winery owners, winemakers, and other wine professionals everywhere you look, so take advantage of that and learn something new.

While the wine is being poured, ask questions like:

• What makes the wine unique?
• What food would they pair with it?
• What wine are they most excited about?

If there’s one true thing about wine professionals it’s that they love to talk about wine, so listen for stories. You might learn about the history of the winery, the winemaking philosophy or decisions that the winemaker makes, or fun facts about the vineyards. These folks are often the same people who work in the winery tasting rooms, and sometimes they are the winemaker or the winery owner.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is courtesy during busy times when others are waiting for a  taste. Conversations are best had during slower times when the people pouring can focus their attention on you.

Take Notes and Follow Up

Keep a record. Often you’ll receive a program or listing of wineries and the wines being poured, but I suggest taking a notebook (or using a notes app on your phone) just in case. Make sure you jot down the winery name, the wine(s) tasted, and a quick impression or rating. You might also want to take photos of the bottles and/or winery booths. Your notes and photos will help you remember which wines/wineries you liked and which you did not.

Before you depart, revisit the wineries with the wines you liked the most. Take a business card and/or whatever marketing materials they have. This is also a great time to purchase wine (many wineries offer a festival discount), but remember to stick to your budget if you’ve set one.

Afterwards, follow your favorites on social media. Check out their websites and join their email lists. Their emails will keep you informed of fun events at their wineries and when new wines are released. And if any of the wineries you liked are nearby, make a plan to visit their tasting room sometime.

One Final Word

And that word is “enjoy.”

Wine is meant to be enjoyed. And that’s what wine festivals are all about. They are a time for discovery and learning, and most of all, enjoyment.

So remember to arrive with your plan, pace yourself, ask questions, and take notes. When you keep in mind that festivals aren’t about tasting as many wines as possible, you’ll leave with a better understanding of your own preferences and a deeper appreciation of the wineries and winemakers.