RANDOMOCITY

As we have not been out exploring new tasting rooms lately, I thought I'd share a few random, thoughts, ideas, tips and stories with you.

TASTING ROOM ETIQUETTE

A few thoughts about tasting room etiquette... There are certain things that you should and should not do in order to ensure a pleasant tasting experience for both you and the other guests in the tasting room. Number one on my personal list is - do not wear heavy perfume or cologne to the tasting room. The scents can overpower the delicate, subtle aroma of the wine. Remember the olfactory process affects not only smell, but also taste. A heavy, cloying scent can spread through a room and linger for quite some time afterward. I have had people come in for a tasting after someone wearing a heavy perfume had left and commented that they could not smell or taste the wines properly due to the heavy, lingering aroma. If you do wear perfume, consider tasting outside if the weather is nice.  

These heavy smells also are the reason you will not usually find hot coffee in a tasting room, the scent can overpower the wines. So, if you have a cup of your favorite joe, leave it in the car.

Another personal qualm of mine is gum chewing. I had a lady came in for a tasting, she said that she had heard everyone raving about our wines and she was eager to taste them. I took her through a whole flight and she did not like one single wine. I even brought out a few highly-rated, well-received wine to entice her.  When she finished, she was quite disappointed (and said so, she could not understand why everyone loved our wine). I told her I was sorry that we were unable to find any wines she liked and explained that sometimes it happens. I told her the tasting fee and as she paid, she asked for a napkin. To my surprise, she then proceeded to spit out a piece of spearmint gum. I inquired if she had had that in her mouth the whole time. "Why yes", she replied. At that point, I told her the tasting fee was on me and handed her my business card and an invite for her (and a friend) to come back for a free tasting, provided she did not chew any gum prior to arriving. She  incredulously asked if the gum would make a difference? I responded in the affirmative and again encouraged her to come back another day and give us a try. I was not present when she came back, but I know she did because I saw the card that I had given her.

The tasting room affords customers to experience the "Joy of Discovery" of both the wine and the winery.  The staff works hard to present both in a fashion appropriate to the needs of the customer, which brings me to my next point. The tasting room is just that, it is not a bar and loud, obnoxious or raucous behavior can lessen the experience for everyone. Save the loud banter, demanding presence and/or high-maintenance behavior for somewhere else. Tasting is supposed to be held in a casual, relaxing environment. I have had customers enter the tasting room and immediately leave due to a loud, high energy atmosphere that is not conducive to the tasting experience.  Have fun, just be respectful of others enjoying the experience.

TASTING ROOM TIPS

Okay, lest I sound like a shrill, demanding, schoolmarm, I would like to share a few tips with you. If you are tasting and see an Oregon Pinot noir glass (the really big one!) believe it when the server tells you it will hold a whole bottle (it will!) It always seems that within a big group, someone will pick up the Pinot glass and inquire about it. I share the story and tell people that it will even hold a whole bottle (although it shouldn't actually do so). Inevitably, one of the (almost always) guys will question if it really does. I would bet them that it did, "If it does, you buy the glass, if it doesn't, I will cover your group's tasting fees". More often that note, they'd take me up on it. I would pull an empty bottle, rinse it out and fill it with water to the fill line. Then, I would pour it right there in front of them, proving that it did, indeed, fit in the glass. I sold more of those glasses this way. :-)

Please remember that you are sampling alcohol, so do not taste on an empty stomach. I have had people who regularly taste become victim to this. I had one regular customer who came in for a tasting and then had a glass. In the middle of the glass, she commented that she had not eaten since breakfast and asked for a fruit and cheese plate. Before we could finish preparing the plate, she got woozy and all of a sudden, just pitched off her stool and onto the floor. We had no warning other that her stating she was hungry, she was not visibly intoxicated in the least. This is a scary occurrence - and not so much fun for the customer either. Please have a bit to eat!

A typical tasting pour is around one ounce (it can vary from place to place and server to server), you are not required to drink it all, feel free to either spit or pour it out, it will not offend anyone. That is what the spit buckets are there for. This is especially important if you are visiting multiple tastings throughout the day. Be safe!

Not the proper use of a spit bucket

I have people frequently ask me about wine and food pairing. I am not a "foodie" but know some simple rules. I have recently found this chart on the Brofeifei Blog...

Well, there it is, my rant blog for the time being. Until we meet again, I wish you well and hope you enjoy your wines. CHEERS!!!

Wine is older than history. Humans didn't invent wine. We discovered it.

                                 -PHILIP SELDON, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine

Ashland Wine Cellar "Parte Seconda"

Back on 4/4/12, I wrote a blog about the Ashland Wine Cellar (AWC) being sold by long-time proprietor, Lorn Razzano. Since I had left the wine sales biz and live in Medford, I have not had the chance to revisit the AWC until recently. While I was at Cowhorn, I had the opportunity to visit the Cellar and work with Wine Steward Extraordinaire, Cheryl Garvey.  During this time, I also met Joy Light and owners Brian & Lisa Dunagan. Brian and Lisa have put together a wonderful team and have managed to keep the spirit of the Cellar, stocking unique, hard to find wines, still offering a great cigar selection, and strongly supporting the Southern Oregon wine scene, while updating and cleaning the old girl up. 

I recently received a Facebook event invite from Brian to attend a tasting. Each Thursday, the AWC hosts a "Sip & Swirl" at the store featuring different producers and distributors. Intrigued, I accepted the invitation and despite a serious downpour, I drove over to Ashland to sample and visit.  An old acquaintance, John Wren, was  pouring for Lemma Distribution and he had five wines to present, all unique and very tasty. Without getting into all of the tasting notes, I will call attention to one in particular, the 2013 Iris Vineyards Pinot gris (90 Points from Wine Enthusiast) from the Willamette Valley. It is  a crisp, medium-bodied gris with bright acidity, nice aromatics, and balanced fruit. I knew my wife, Jill, would love it and it did not disappoint. (NOTE: we will mark this for our next trip to Eugene)

During the tasting I had the chance to chat with staff member, Joy Light, who does custom hand-painted silks. I remarked how the place looked and even though I missed Lorn, they still had retained the inviting, hospitable feeling.  She told me that people still come in looking for Lorn for advice or to simply sit and shoot the breeze, as Lorn was want to do. She said that she takes messages for Lorn and gives them to him during his occasional visit to the Cellar. That is amazing and highlights the great customer service approach they all share.

I also had a chance to speak with owner Brian and catch up. I told him I loved how the place is doing and was happy that it seems to be quite successful under his leadership. I saw Brian interact with his customers and you can tell, his is a labor of love. He is very personable and takes an active, hands-on interest in his customers.

Cheryl and I had a few brief moments as she is a constant whirlwind of motion and activity. She is a first rate customer service professional and has amazing wine knowledge and palate. She never ceases to surprise me. She pulled out a few Bordeaux wines as a bonus, which were a real treat, I especially fell for a Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc 2002. Although it was showing a little age, it has very nice fruit with a pleasant herbaceousness, light earth and leather notes, and a complexity that was outstanding. If this is not your "cup of tea", just ask Cheryl and she will find the perfect fit for your palate and budget.

I am glad I went, I have since noticed that they also do Friday Sip and Swirls with select local producers. Hmmm, a revisit is shortly in order.

Photo courtesy of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce.

“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile” 

― Homer

                                        

Homer

Not this Homer