Wine tasting qns

hi, how is it going? what do you guys usually look out for when you are invited to a wine tasting event by a wine merchant that tells you whether this is a good wine merchant?

Best regards,
DavidZ

Simple, check out the wine portfolio! Easy to do these days via our wonderful internet.
The actual environment of the tasting is important too but guess you will not find out till you get there. Avoid a hot room, lousy glasses, loud music, lack of promotional information.

Are you thinking of putting on a tasting?

As Bob said, it's pretty easy to determine whether someone is a good merchant by looking at their inventory.

However, a seperate question is whether I want to attend the tasting. That will usually vary considerably across people depending on your threshold for spending money on tastings. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the small sip tasting format so I don't want to pay a lot of money for the 'pleasure.' I much prefer the tastings that are free or have nominal fees, and big selections. But hey, who doesn't think that way!

Your interests may vary. (These things are certainly useful in the beginning of the wine hobby when you are trying to get exposed to as many things as possible. Or, if the tasting focuses on new releases from a certain region and you're deciding what to purchase).

Good point Rahsaan, being asked to pay for a small-sip tasting. I would rather pay for an in-store tasting where I know I am going to get a good insight into the wines offered. Probably some nice snackie food too!

Yea I'm organizing an Italian themed tasting for my boss and this is my first time doing so. Perhaps some advice in preparing a comfortable setting would be great?

Another question: is it better to distribute tasting notes to the customers who come for the wine tasting sessions or let them take their own notes?

[David M. Bueker]

If the idea is to get people to buy then I would distribute materials to them in advance. If it's a fun tasting then let them take their own notes & compare to professional reviews or other notes afterwards.

I prefer sitdown tastings at tables but that may not be possible depending on space available. Have water on hand (some prefer mineral water but I favor regular bottled water.) Have bland bread or crackers for cleansing palate between wines and possibly some snacks that pair well with the wines being poured. Have someone knowledgeable about the wines present to discuss them with the attendees.

I recently created this list of things I like to see at a tasting. Mainly with producer tastings in mind, but largely applicable to merchant tastings too.

1) A comfortable environment. Outside can work, but often it is too hot, cold or windy. Usually inside - with a cool temperature and good lighting- is best.

2) Somewhere to rest glass and notebook . A place to sit is nice, but I'd much rather stand by a bar-height table or ledge than have a chair with no table.

3) A white surface, to show the colour of the wine. If the table top is white that's great. If not, something like a sheet of A4 paper would be fine.

4) Basic information about each wine. The official designation, vineyard if on the label, the grape variety or blend, vintage, alcohol content. Give the information clearly, and repeat it. Leave the bottle with us after pouring so we can see the label.

5) Good access to spitoons. And not just for emptying glasses - even amateurs sometime want to spit.
Serviette, or sheet of paper towel. There are nearly always dribbles of wine to be dealt with.