Beginner’s Guide to Wine Tasting: A Guide By Campos Family Vineyards

If you’re new to the world of wine, you might be feeling unsure about your first trip to the tasting room. We’ve got your back with a few easy-to-follow guidelines so you can feel comfortable and confident. Let’s get sipping!

Dress Comfortably

Comfortable clothes pair well with a day of drinking wine. Jeans or flowy dresses are always good options, but always double-check the weather. Comfortable shoes are a must since you might be strolling around or taking a tour of the vineyard. Leave the perfume and cologne at home as they can interfere with your sense of smell – a critical component of wine tasting.  

Ask Your Burning Questions

Wondering why Golden Girl is tinged with orange or why we aged Biggies in bourbon barrels? What in the world is méthode champenoise? Don’t keep those questions bottled up! Our friendly staff love sharing their vino knowledge, so ask away. 

You can also ask to tour the vineyard while you’re here. Our wine-making process is intricate and unique, and we’d love to give you a behind-the-scenes look.

Engage Your Senses

Wine tasting is truly a sensory experience. Take a good look at your wine and notice the color, clarity, and how it sticks to the glass when you swirl it around. Stick your nose in the glass and inhale those heavenly aromas. Then, take a sip and note the flavors, acidity, and how long the taste lingers. Write down your observations, like if Boujee reminds you of Twizzlers or if Big Red smells like bell peppers. These notes will be your personal wine diary and will help you remember your favorites (and least favorites). 

Moderation is the Name of the Game

We’re all about enjoying life, but if you have a long day of wine tasting ahead, you’ll probably want to pace yourself. Wine tasting is about enjoying the different flavors rather than drinking full glasses. We recommend using the spit bucket (doesn’t sound very glamorous, we know) for tastes you don’t like.

Eating something throughout the day can be helpful, too. Did you know we offer complimentary bread and locally grown olive oil with every tasting? 

Drink What You Like

Being open-minded is a good thing (you might just discover a new favorite!), but don’t be shy about what you like or don’t like. Life is too short to drink wine you don’t enjoy. 

Remember the Basic Rules

Wine tasting is a laid-back experience, but it’s good to remember some simple rules, like: Hold the wine by the stem to avoid warming the wine with your hands. Don’t bring outside alcohol into a tasting room. Don’t wear heavy perfumes or colognes. Double-check the rules about kids and pets before you bring them. Pace yourself. HAVE FUN. Got it?

Ready to go? Reserve your Campos Family Vineyards wine tasting ahead of time!