Press Room
Wine Festival Etiquette
How to get the most out of this season's wine festivals
For more information contact:
Elaine Matthews, Account Manager
RSW Partners
970-257-4580
Elaine@rswpartners.com
PALISADE, Colo. (June 2, 2011) – Wine festivals are a sure sign of summer and fall. Wine festivals aren't stuffy wine tastings, but fun-filled festivals with tents of wine, grape stomping and music. So, what's the etiquette when attending wine festivals full of wine and activities?
Sarah Catlin, executive director of the Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, Colo., which celebrates its 20th annual event Sept. 17, offers her tips on how to best enjoy this season's wine festivals.
Wear comfy clothing and shoes. Know the environment so you dress properly. The Colorado Mountain Winefest is an outdoor event. Wearing appropriate sun protection, clothes for the venue and comfortable shoes will make it more enjoyable.
Eat before you go. Most all festivals will have food at the event, however you're likely to go straight to the tasting tents. Having a bit of food in your stomach will help you pace yourself. And be sure to eat while you're there!
Pace yourself. Most wine tastings are a one ounce pour. Take into consideration that an average glass of wine is five ounces. If there are 50 wineries in attendance and you only taste one wine from each winery, that's the equivalent of 10 glasses of wine! Drinking equal parts water is always smart. Drink responsibly.
Take a dance break. This goes along with pacing yourself. Take a break from tasting, and work off some of the wine and energy while enjoying the entertainment. You can also take a break to act like "Lucy" and stomp grapes, watch chef demonstrations and peruse the artists' booths.
Festival Tasting Etiquette
Winery tents are not a bar. Pour and move. To keep things moving at a particular winery's tent, choose the wine that you would like to taste and move to the back of the line. Sip the wine while the line is moving. You want the festival experience to be fun for everyone, and it's not fun when several people belly up to the bar, slowing the line.
Don't like it? Don't drink it. Life's too short for wine you don't enjoy. This is what the spittoons are for.
Ask for the best. Each winery has its specialty. Ask to taste what they consider their best wine. If you don't enjoy that wine, you may want to move on to the next winery.
Make a list. If you find a wine you love, be sure to either write it down so you can visit the winery or purchase the wine immediately.
Uncork the bottle! With all the festivities going on around the tastings, sit back and enjoy the day with one of your favorite wine finds.
Don't drink and drive. It doesn't matter how many tastes you've had, you want a designated driver. To encourage this practice, many festivals offer a non-drinker ticket at a reduced price.
About Colorado Mountain Winefest
The 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest is Sept. 15-18, 2011, with the Festival in the Park Sept. 17. Thousands of wine lovers make the annual pilgrimage to Palisade, Colo., to sample a growing array of Colorado wines and participate in a variety of events, including winery tours, chef demonstrations, V.I.P. events and the always popular grape stomp. Colorado Mountain Winefest is the fundraiser for the trade organization of grape growers and winemakers of Colorado, the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE), a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. Join the Colorado Mountain Winefest conversation via Facebook (www.facebook.com/cowinefest), Twitter (@cowinefest) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/cowinefest) and learn more at www.ColoradoWinefest.com.