After an investigation on the basic do’s and dont’s of wine tasting, one comes to realise that with the many obstacles we face at wine events, it’s a miracle we get to taste any wine at all.

Wine events and wine festivals are forever filling up our diaries and it is a sad day when one comes to realise wine etiquette has somewhere along the line flown out the cellar door.

It’s nothing short of a miracle that we don’t trip on our stilletos, float on a Christian Dior cloud and fall face down into the spitoon with what one can only presume is a Shiraz Viognier blend in your glass. What follows is a basic guide of what to do and not to do when getting into the mood at wine events.

Although it’s hard to resist walking through a mist of perfume, rather go au naturel at wine tastings as the strong smell of perfume or aftershave has a huge impact on each taster’s experience of the wine. Even keep strong washing powder to a minimum, no one enjoys the fresh smell of OMO in their Cabernet.

Don’t fill and chill. After your tasting glass has been filled at the tasting stand, move away. Wine events and festivals are more often than not extremely busy and everyone would like the opportunity to taste some wine. Even though it’s your favourite stand and the winemaker is single…

A wine event is not Nokia Fashion Week – keep handbags, hats and other accessories small and to a minimum. With popular wine festivals such as Stellenbosch Wine Festival and the WineXpo, space is a luxury. Your enormous hat and Mary Poppins bag is not welcome.

Say it, don’t spray it. Spitting is an artform. It takes a lot of skill and practise to look like a wine taster and not like you’re at the dentist. Therefore, when you do decide to spit (and spitting is important – no one will appreciate your dancing skills on the wine stands), stay clear of any limbs in your way. And whatever you do, don’t spit over someone’s shoulder. There’s nothing as frightening as red wine squirting past your ear while you’re concentrating on the Shiraz in your glass.

As mentioned before, at wine events space is limited and you are bound to bump into someone. Apologise. You might have to say “I’m sorry” close to a hundred times in one night, but it will be appreciated. Everyone understand it’s a jungle out there.

Yes, it’s a cheap night and all you have to snack on is dry crackers and if you’re lucky a few olives. If you don’t like spitting, limit your tasting and drink lots of water in between. None of the above mentioned will be possible if you are solely responsible for finishing Nederburg’s stock for the evening.

Although wine festivals are for the public, respect the fact that some people go to these events to actually taste the wine, not just drink it. It’s supposed to be a vineyard out there – not a jungle.

Source: wine.co.za