Napa Valley Wine Tasting Tips

Make Your Appointments

It's always a good idea to schedule your appointments well in advance of your visit because some of the more popular wineries fill up their appointments weeks in advance. Some wineries are so small that they need to know when you are coming so someone will be there to greet you. Other wineries have permit restrictions that limit the number of guests that can visit each day. Many wineries have sit-down tastings that start and end at specific times.

Should I tip?

Tipping is not necessary when wine tasting. Most tasting rooms charge a fee. However, when you have received service above your expectations tipping is appreciated, including additional wine service beyond the menu or larger size groups.

Tasting Fees

Most of the wineries that are open to the public charge a fee. They can charge anywhere from $10 to $150 per person. The fees will increase if you decide to elevate your experience to include a tour, lunch, class or seminar. Depending on the winery and activity, those fees can go quite a bit higher. Some wineries waive tasting fees when purchasing bottles of wine.

Know How to Taste Wine

See — Observe the color and clarity of the wine. Color can be affected by age, varietal and barrel process.

Swirl — Lightly twirl the stem of the glass, keeping the bottom of the glass on the table if you are worried about spilling. This allows some oxygen into the wine that will help its aromas open up.

Sniff — Hold the glass a few inches from your nose, then let your nose drop into the glass. Older wines often have nuanced, subtle aromas that are difficult to identify. Don't worry if you can't always recognize an aroma.

Sip — Take a sip and let it linger in your mouth. Roll the wine around in your mouth, exposing it to all of your taste buds.

Glasses of White, Rose, Red wines from Napa Valley

Tasting Terminology

Acidity — The tartness or crispness of a wine that makes your mouth salivate. Wines with no acidity as referred to as flat or flabby.

Balanced — When all components of a wine - alcohol, acidity, sugars and tannin - are working in harmony.

Body — The impression of weight on your palate - light, medium and full are common body qualifiers.

Breathe — The process of letting a wine open up via the introduction of air.

Corked — Corked wine is a term for a wine that has become contaminated with cork taint. Corked wines smell and taste of damp, soggy, wet or rotten cardboard.

Full-bodied — A wine that is high in alcohol and flavors.

Mouthfeel — How the wine feels on your palate - it can be silky, smooth, rough, chewy.

Nose — The aromas and bouquets of a wine.

Reserve — A largely American term indicating a wine of higher quality; it has no legal meaning.

Tannins — Extracted from grape seeds and skins, tannins taste astringent or chalky and add body and structure to wine.

Viticulture Terminology

Biodynamic farming — A method of organic farming emphasizes the use of manures and composts and excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants. This method includes spiritual and mystical perspectives.

Brix — The scale winemakers use to measure sugar quantity in grape berries or juice. Winemakers use Brix as one way to determine ripeness.

Estate — 100% of the wine from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery, which must be located in a viticultural area. The winery must crush and ferment the grapes and bottle the wine in a continuous process on their premises.

Organic farming — Grapes grown without the aid of chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

Sustainable farming — Farming based on a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse.

Terroir — The combination of soil, climate and all other factors that influence the ultimate character of a wine.

Veraison — The color change of grapes on the vine, the softening of the berries and the sweetening of the flavors, indicating the onset of ripening.