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Ask a Wine-Know: Visiting a winery or tasting room
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Posted by Anncierley Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:25:26 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments I have written several columns for you that have included the suggestion of visiting a winery or tasting room. I've had questions asking how to go about this, what to expect when you get there, and “How do I keep from making a fool of myself?” All of these, and more, I can answer for you with today's question: "I want to go up to the wine country and visit some wineries. How do I go about it?"

The wine world loves you. Behind all the hype that touts wine as an essential part of the good lifet, and all the time spent on creating and polishing this image, are real experiences and people that are fun to get to know and enjoy. And they make it easy for you all, both novices and serious wine aficionados. There is something for everyone with all levels of knowledge and experience about wine in one of these tasting rooms.

If you like the occasional glass of wine at home, and have begun to order wine out as part of your restaurant experience, especially for an evening of fine dining, then a trip to a winery is definitely something for you.

The easiest first step is on your next trip to the Central Coast. There are wineries all along Highway 46 on the route to Paso Robles. Beckoning signs even begin just west of the intersection with I-5, but your first wineries will be across the hills. I would suggest stopping at your first right entrance, Meridian Winery. There is a long straight road leading up to the parking lot. You will notice many beautiful rose bushes all along the way. They do beautify the landscape, but they serve a purpose for the winery. Several insect infestations (such as powdery mildew) attack the roses before reaching the vineyards, and the crews get advance warning! You will now notice how many vineyards are surrounded by rose bushes!

Park in the lot, walk the short stroll up to the entrance, noticing the beautiful views all around you. Wineries really are beautiful places –– especially tasting rooms, and the rest rooms therein!  Everything is so neat and clean! The same will be true for all the wineries along the highway and back roads! Most tasting rooms open by 11 a.m. and close around 4 or 4:30 p.m. Very few serve anything to eat except the occasional crackers or bites of bread. On later trips you might want to pack a lunch if you see picnic tables (which are fairly common among the wineries). Etiquette dictates that you do not bring, or at least open, a bottle from any other winery. Buy one there if you want to drink with your lunch.

Upon entering the tasting room, you will notice a long bar or counter with several smiling and usually gracious people behind it. Everyone in your party should step up and take the glass offered, unless they are not drinking –– the designated driver, perhaps? Most wineries now have a tasting charge, usually around $5. This charge sometimes includes the glass, which you can now take with you, but not otherwise. Also your tasting fee will usually be returned if you purchase wine before you leave.

You will usually find all Meridian wines that you taste here at all the stores in Bakersfield, but occasionally they will have a “special,” and be pouring a wine that is “only available at the winery.”  Seldom will the price you are charged at any winery be any different than the regular retail price you will see here in town. Most of the wines available to taste when you walk in are available to purchase in the real world. The purpose of tasting rooms, after all, is for you to try their wines in the hope you will like them and purchase them on your next shopping trip back home.

The girl or guy behind the counter, or tasting bar, should greet you, say “How many will be tasting?” tell you the fee, and then either gesture to a board above the counter or give you a piece of paper, on which is written the wines that are available for tasting that day. Read it! See how many there are available, and then what kinds –– you do not have to taste them all! It is not impolite to just taste one or two or three only! And remember this is a tasting, not a drinking contest! You should be poured only enough in your glass for several swallows. You may share with your companions if a very little is enough for you. Dump the remainder in the dump bucket, which is on the counter in plain sight. There should be several within easy reach. No inebriated persons are wanted in the room. It is proper to dump all excess wine.

It is also proper to ask questions. The ladies and gentlemen behind the counter are there for that purpose as well as to pour for you. They will be very knowledgeable. That is their job, to know these wines and be able to answer any related questions. And I assure you, they've heard them all! I came in one day to hear a visitor ask why they didn't have any blush wines since the winery was offering both red and white wines for sale, and couldn't they just mix some? I listened to a very nice lecture on wine varietals and then a little later heard a very good discussion with another group about the relative merits of a certain vintage versus the previous five years output! These people are ready for whatever your experience in wine has been!

If you are buying wine before you leave, do not put it in the trunk of your car if at all possible! Heat is an enemy of wine! Carry it with you so it can enjoy the air-conditioning too. Only put it in the trunk if the bottle is opened, as it against the law to have an opened  container of alcohol where it can be reached! The best advice is to buy wine on your trip home and then get it inside and to a cool place as soon as possible.

Before you leave, browse the rest of the room. Notice all the wine paraphernalia. Great gifts for wine-loving friends are possible as well as your chance to buy that great corkscrew you've been looking for at home.

As this is the first tasting room on your visit, peruse the publications rack! Pick up the always useful little free maps of wineries in the area. You will want to keep one in your car pocket. You'll be glad you have it!

Wineries I would suggest for a visit on the way home on Highway 46  (and thus would be on the right side of the road on the way back to Bakersfield) are EOS-Arciero, Chumeia, or Tobin James. All of these wineries, plus Eberle on the north side of the highway, I recommend as helpful to newcomers to tasting rooms. Once you understand  what goes on in a tasting room, you can consult your map and plan another trip to include three or four wineries in a certain area for a day's adventure later.

Talk with the other people in the room, visitors like yourselves. Wineries are friendly places, and everyone likes to share their “finds” and their opinions. I'm careful not to say uncomplimentary things about the same winery I'm standing in –– after all, I am a guest in their home. but talking about something you like is fun! Everyone gets the message when you can respond to “What did you like best?”

If you are interested in a tour of the winery, always ask. Many wineries have regularly scheduled ones and you might be able to go that same day. Otherwise, consult your map. Not only are most of the wineries in the Paso Robles area shown, but their hours of operation are noted, whether or not they give tours is mentioned, and there are phone numbers listed. Call ahead another time. Ask for a tour. These are always informative and you can learn much about winemaking from an expert, the winemaker himself.

For those of you in the computer era, look up wineries you are interested in visiting. Their Web pages will have lots of information that can be used to schedule tours and other appointments.

If you want your first tour to be scheduled by someone else, there are always wine country tours. This info is all around you, and especially available in those racks in the tasting rooms with the maps you will want. We have a tour scheduled by the North Bakersfield Park and Recreation District on Saturday, April 14. They will go to four very good wineries in the Paso area, have lunch at one, travel in a special coach, leave Bakersfield at 8 a.m. and return around 6 p.m. Call Roger Perez at 392-2000 ext. 125 for more info.

Have fun visiting the tasting room! Or taking the tour! If you want to stay in town and drink new wines too, try the next winemaker dinner of the Bakersfield Friends of Wine at Bakersfield Country Club on Friday evening, April 20 at Bakersfield Country Club. Call Klaus Hoeper at 871-6463 for info and reservations.

Wine questions? E-mail acierley@etcrier.net

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