A Quick Note on Tasting

A recent tasting with a vertical of G-LOC

We recently sent a series of emails discussing different options for tasting wine. Although I enjoyed them all, I feel the need to talk about tasting the way we approach it in the tasting room with new wine drinkers.

Wine tasting can be intimidating as there is certainly a curated mystique (from industry pros) and a significant amount of uptight bullshit. For new wine drinkers my take is there are really only two questions that matter. First, do you like it? If the answer is no, don’t drink it, regardless of what the critics, the tasting room staff, or your knowledgable wine friend says. Wine is uniquely personal, don’t be intimated; drink what you like. If you do like, drink it and then, possibly, move on to the second question. Number two, if you like it, do you like it enough to spend what the winery, store, or restaurant is asking? This is the value proposition and many in the wine world pretend it does not exist. It absolutely does. Now everyone has their own definition of value but it should be asked. Do you like it enough to pay the asking price? Honestly, there are plenty of wines I love but find to be a poor value; as such, I don’t buy or drink them that often.

It really is that simple. With that said, you can always go deeper if you like. I will offer a simple technique for that next time.

Fight’s On!

Bull Schmitt