Tasting Like a Pro: Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Wine Journey

Wine tasting is not just sipping and swirling — it’s an exploration of flavor, craft and culture. Whether you’re a casual fan or brand new to the scene, sidestepping a couple of common mistakes can take your enjoyment to the next level and help you actually appreciate that glass in your hand. If you’re thinking of taking your first (or next!) wine tasting Kelowna tour, this guide is exactly everything you need to get started.

Tasting on an Empty Stomach

One of the worst mistakes you can make is going into a wine tasting without having something to eat. When you taste wine on an empty stomach, you may lose your sensitivity and get buzzed faster – and that’s not the point of sipping through each pour. Enjoy a good meal before and, if there are any snacks or accompaniments as part of your tasting event, eat, too.

Wearing Strong Fragrances

In wine tasting, your sense of smell is key. If you're smelling heavily of perfume, cologne or scented lotion then your ability to sense the nuance in each wine will be compromised. It’s nice to keep the personal fragrance low so you can concentrate on the bouquet that you have in your glass — and not on your wrist.

Skipping the Spittoon

It might be strange at first, to spit out wine, but it’s not only an acceptable part of the experience, it looks professional, too. This is particularly useful during wine tasting Kelowna winery tours where you could be trying a lot of different varietals in a day, and by using a spittoon, you can keep your wits about you, and judge each wine without losing your palate.

Rushing Through the Tasting

Wine is meant to be savored. Savor the color, feel the aroma, sip slowly. Allow the wine to stay on the palate before swallowing (or spitting). And speeding up means not only enjoying less, but experiencing less of the complexity and depth that can make wineglasses such fascinating places to visit.

Not Asking Questions

Winemakers and hosts are passionate and they love to share what they do. Feel free to ask them about the wine, vineyard, and winemaking process. This not only expands your knowledge but also the memory of having tasted a good Vintage.It not only broadens your intellect, but also improves your wine tasting Kelowna experience.

Final Thoughts

Wine tasting is an art — and like other arts, it requires practice and presence. Avoid these popular pitfalls and you’ll be on the path to thinks-like-a-pro flavor. Exploring vineyards, or out in a tasting room, Sip & Anchor is here to take you on an adventure to remember, the wine way.