Wine tasting events are becoming more and more popular.
From college classrooms to vacations to Napa Valley, if you're going to a wine tasting event and aren't familiar with the protocol, you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
The first thing to note when you go to a wine tasting event is that the staff at various tasting rooms are there to help educate you, not be snooty.
It is perfectly acceptable to bring a pad of paper and a pen to take notes.
Also, if the staff member doesn't mention a type of wine that you're interested in, it's okay to ask for a specific kind.
The order of the wines usually goes from light to heavy and then from dry to sweet.
Since some wines don't follow others very well, it's best to take the staff's advice when deciding which wines to try first.
You don't have to try every wine that is offered to you, and you don't have to finish the entire glass that is poured for you.
If you find one that you don't like, discreetly dump the remainder of the glass into the dump bucket.
There are two things that you should never do when tasting wine: refill your own glass and loudly proclaim a negative opinion of a wine.
In fact, in some states it is illegal to refill your own wine glass.
If you don't want to swallow all of the wine that you taste, you may spit it out.
Under no circumstances are you to spit into the dump bucket.
Instead, ask for a disposable spit cup.
Experts are torn about gurgling and swishing, but most agree that when you're in doubt it's best to err on the side of being discreet.
Wine tasting can be a lot of fun, but not if you're wearing lots of cologne or perfume.
Not only do the scents interfere with your ability to enjoy the wine objectively and without interference, but it affects your neighbors as well.
The best option is to go without for the day.