How I got to know about the rules for wine tasting in Napa?

Posted by Corely Family Napa Valley on May 28th, 2019

Recently, a friend of mine who just started to get into wine asked me best wine tasting in Napa. Is it mandatory to buy bottles? It is appropriate to tip? How does she ask for “the good stuff”?

I realized right away that whereas the wine tasting is a common practice for those of us who’ve lived in wine country for years and visit wineries often, it remains foreign territory for millions of non-industry Americans.

When answering my friend, I also realized that some of my advice may actually be out of date, especially since many tasting rooms for best wine tasting in Napa now function as de facto wine bars. So, should you tip? I wasn’t sure, nor had I been tracking whether the rules I’ve been following for about 20 years still have any validity. I am aware of how to drink it but I had no real idea how to taste it.

Surrounded by people talking vintages and appellations and malolactic fermentation, I quickly realized that there was a lot more to this wine-drinking business than the angle at which you hold your pinkie. Here’s what they had to say.

1. Don’t flex too much wine knowledge.
 For an instance even you are a master at Napa cabernet, be silent and observe. I usually stay away from explaining too technically in a tasting room because it seems like I’m showing off. And often the tasting room staff, who tend to be entry-level employees, don’t know as much as you’d know about wine

2. Start light, finish heavy.
If you tackle the big guns in other words, the heavy reds right off the bat, your palate isn't going to be able to recover. "Start with the driest wines first," says Wagner. Wines with major residual sugar are going to compromise your palate, so hit those at the end of your best Napa valley wineries visit or your day.

3. Hold your glass with your hand as far as possible from the wine
Temperature can affect taste, so keep your hot little paws as far away from the precious liquid as possible. Chang says it's gauche to hold the glass anywhere except for the stem.

4. Study the specimen.
After the wine pours into a glass, it should be thoroughly investigated before quaffing. Your goal here is to begin to catalog the characteristics you like. Hold it up to light and observe the color and clarity. Shake your glass and let the wine run down the sides: wine that tends to hold onto the glass and leave more streaks (called "legs"), has a high viscosity, which generally means more alcohol and sugars. Best Napa valley wineries often suggest this method to guests as well.

5. Swirl and swirl again.
Swirling doesn't just make you look like you know what you're doing it serves an actual purpose. When you swirl, you're aerating the wine, introducing enough oxygen to unleash the flavor secrets within. This trick is specifically effective for Napa cabernet if you happen to taste it.
 
Corley family often shares such tips and organizes tasting events, you can check the latest at www.corleyfamilynapavalley.com.