To spit or not to spit..........wine tasting event etiquette
Discussion
Yes, wine tasting! I am going to a wine tasting event held by a firm of stockbrokers. What is proper etiquette, bearing in mind that there will be a mix of people who are really there to network. Spit or not and make funny noises or not. I am assuming yes and yes. There are pre-tasting drinks so spitting may seem like a waste after a few drinks.
Any advice?
Any advice?
I grew up in my best friends house whose mum was a wine journalist.
She always said the only reason you spit is if you have a huge seletion to get through, most wine tasting is more of a sampling.
So you should get a small glass to drink.
I go to a few wine festivals near my parents in France, the French would shoot you for spitting wine out unless you are working.
She always said the only reason you spit is if you have a huge seletion to get through, most wine tasting is more of a sampling.
So you should get a small glass to drink.
I go to a few wine festivals near my parents in France, the French would shoot you for spitting wine out unless you are working.
It depends on how serious the wine tasting group is. I was a member at my previous company (a certain well known high street bank) and we just drank what ever was poured (unless it was crap), however more serious groups will always spit out.
On a note about spitting out and driving - not possible anymore (in fact never really was possible since drink drive rules came in) as there's now quite a bit of research out that shows just how much of the alcohol you still absorb just with swilling and spitting.
On a note about spitting out and driving - not possible anymore (in fact never really was possible since drink drive rules came in) as there's now quite a bit of research out that shows just how much of the alcohol you still absorb just with swilling and spitting.
GBWC said:
dapprman said:
more serious groups will always spit out.
Sorry, but where on earth did you get this from?
If you are invited to a corporate wine tasting event there will probably only be a dozen or so wines to try so a small glass of each if perfectly doable. If you are a wine buyer having to taste several dozen a day you can't drink them all or you would be leathered.
Taste, swallow and enjoy.
Personally, I would look at what's on offer, what the facilities are and how you are getting home. Oh - and don't forget whether you want to potentially look a plonker later. These things suddenly creep up on you and by then its too late.
I'm coming at this from a whisky tasting angle where the spittoon is starting to become available. If you don't like it - don't be forced to drink more when you can save yourself for others.
Don't arrive on any empty stomach and have access to water between drinks to cleanse the palate (at whisky events anyway). Don't go crazy beforehand when you know there is more due later.
Know your limits. If you get to the end and are up to it, there are bound to be top ups of what you liked. And back to the real subject - get a glass of water at home and practice !
I'm coming at this from a whisky tasting angle where the spittoon is starting to become available. If you don't like it - don't be forced to drink more when you can save yourself for others.
Don't arrive on any empty stomach and have access to water between drinks to cleanse the palate (at whisky events anyway). Don't go crazy beforehand when you know there is more due later.
Know your limits. If you get to the end and are up to it, there are bound to be top ups of what you liked. And back to the real subject - get a glass of water at home and practice !
At the wine tasting the OP described it's really acceptable to do either but my money would be on most people drinking....and I would do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Some people that go will be "serious" about their wine and spit....most though will be there for the networking, to have a good time and will just want to enjoy some nice wine.
I used to attend an annual wine tasting hosted by Morgan Stnaley which has some pretty serious wine at it.....it was always a hot ticket! I would say 80% of people drank rather than spat. Including myself!
The reality is that there's only a tiny % of the population that would want to do a "proper" wine tasting....most people just want to use the occasion to sample some wines they might never get to taste otherwise.
Some people that go will be "serious" about their wine and spit....most though will be there for the networking, to have a good time and will just want to enjoy some nice wine.
I used to attend an annual wine tasting hosted by Morgan Stnaley which has some pretty serious wine at it.....it was always a hot ticket! I would say 80% of people drank rather than spat. Including myself!
The reality is that there's only a tiny % of the population that would want to do a "proper" wine tasting....most people just want to use the occasion to sample some wines they might never get to taste otherwise.
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