Wine Snob

For the last several months I have been working part time at a small winery here in Temecula, California. If you google Temecula you will find that it is one of the fastest growing wine regions. This last season I had the privilege to handle the harvest literally from dirt to glass. From slaving in the early mornings picking to serving in the tasting room. During that time I also had the rare opportunity to glean a ton of wine knowledge from not only the other people working but the winemaker himself. I have learned much and would like to pass along what I know. I have visited many other wineries and have found that the customers that come in to taste often ask the same questions; where is a good place to go taste?, how and what are you supposed to be tasting for?, why do you pour such a small amount of wine into my glass?, and so on. I would like to begin this series with tips on:

Choosing The Right Winery For You

To choose a winery at which to taste, you need to ask yourself what you are looking for. There are as many wine styles as there are personalities and the wineries that produce that wine usually have the same attitude. If you are the party person that is just looking for a good time with friends, there are wineries that are perfect for that. They make wine that is easy to drink and not too complex. These are good places to go to if you plan on talking about other things instead of wine. However, if you are serious about the wine, what it tastes like, how complex it is, and you are in the mood to expand your horizons, there are wineries for that as well. While putting together the wineries to visit, do the research. A good rule of thumb is if it was easy to find, they probably cater to the party crowd. And that's good sometimes if you just want to let your hair down, but if you should be in that mood, do not expect the smaller, more serious wineries to cater to you. At the winery I work at, we have a "no limo" policy and still every other day there will be a limo that pulls up and eleven girls with pink boas get out to party. Not ok. We ask them to leave. Not because we don't want their business but because we know we don't offer them the wine or the atmosphere they are looking for.

If you happen to find a winery that you like, ask your server where you should go from there. Never underestimate the knowledge your server has to offer. While it is true that some are hired simply to fill a position on an employment roster, many of them are near experts in the art of wine. Offer them a clue into your tastes by letting them know which wines on the list you appreciated the most. Being extremely familiar with those wines, they will easily be able to point you in the right direction.

Ask the servers where they like to go. Many of the serious servers in the industry pride themselves on their knowledge of the region. They will go around on their days off and taste at other wineries to familiarize themselves with what they each have to offer and in turn will be able to provide their own customers with a better idea of what they are seeking. This is as good for business to the winery as it is to your service. They build relationships and connections with the other servers to help tie the wine region closer as a community. So if your server offers you a tip on where you should go next, ask them for their name and let the server at the next winery who sent you. Not only does this help them remember their relationships with one another but it will make you look like an insider. (this may get you an extra pour or maybe a taste of something off the list, but no promises)

Wherever you choose to taste, be open minded. Not all places do weddings or even allow flash photography. Understand that these are places of business but also, sometimes, people's homes and livelihoods. Be respectful and polite. But at the same time have fun and enjoy. maybe if you're really lucky like me, you'll find your happy place on the back patio of a winery with a glass of vino. Cheers!