Maybe I'm a boob.

free, I feel somewhat obliged to buy something.

I don't feel that way - especially if I have to pay for the privilage of having them tout their wine to me. Tasting rooms are a form of advertising. It's a cost of doing business. If the wine is good (enough) I'll buy some. If not, I don't. That's what tastings are for.

Jose

Jon, I feel similarly: a winery has to go out of its way to convince me not to buy. In Europe, especially, such a gesture is appreciated. Given the fact that wineries in Europe sell their wines at a lower price than what's charged for them in stores, there is every inducement to buy. So, what do I do? I buy bottles for consuming with lunch the next day, I buy bottles to give away to generous hosts and friends in Europe, and I buy bottles for bringing back to the US. Since I don't visit more than a handful of wineries in any given region, I can buy 1-3 bottles at each and still not be overburdened.

HTH Mark Lipton

If you don't like the wines you are not obligated to buy anything regardless of how nice they are. It is a commodity just like any other. They aren't giving you a tasting of their wines to entertain you but to get you to buy their wines. One of the things that always tics me off in Napa is that most of the wineries charge and now getting to be fairly steep to see if you like their wines. I have been charged for some real crap that I would have returned in a restaurant and asked for something different. One reason I steer away from public tasting rooms unless I'm with a large group and can't get out of it. Even in Europe you can arrange tastings at places you really want to go and I highly recommend that.

In much of Europe, charging for tasting at wineries is not as common a practice as it is here - but there is more of an expectation that you will buy something. If you simply want to taste and not buy, I highly recommend you visit the caves (wine stores, basically) where they charge for flights of tastings - then, you needn't feel obliged.

But if you visit wineries, especially smaller independent wineries, for tasting, you should plan on purchasing a bottle or two. We usually bring back a case or two of wine packed in our luggage.

Try to bring along something you really like from where you come from - and offer a bottle to the European producer. That really kind of brakes the ice, and more often than not you will get offered a bottle.

Anyhow: Everybody truly serious about wine will acknowledge that you won't be able to take along more than one bottle (at maximum) with you, when you're travelling wine country seriously.

M.

That's true. Even though I don't bring wine to tastings, I can't count the number of bottles (not to mention glasses and other stuff) I've been gifted over the years.

But like Mark I usually buy a bottle for a picnic, just to have something to taste again later, and to thank the family (which it usually is) for their hospitality.

I've never been charged for a tasting in France, and I'd be rather shocked if I were asked to pay.

That's true too. People are interested in your learning about their wine so that you will come back later (maybe even at a store) and again and again.

-E

Wine tasting in California used to be for the most part free. Thats a thing of the past with the majority of wineries now charging an average of $5 per person and sometimes they give you a wine glass with their logo on it. Only a few wineries especially in the more remote regions are still free.

Years ago it was only wine lovers who ever went wine tasting. The winery offered tastes for free with a good change of selling the person some wine. Today wine tasting in California has become a social event. A way to spend an afternoon with friends. They aren't out tasting to find a good wine to bring home. They're just out in the country to enjoy the day, maybe have a picnic at one of the wineries. This is what I believe has caused most wineries to now charge instead of giving away a ton of free wine with few sales.

At many wineries that do charge they have waived the fee when they realize our group is actually interested in their wines. If after I taste a couple wines I say I'll take a bottle or two they then offer premium wine tastings that are not normally available for tasting.

On a holiday weekend many wineries are packed solid, standing room only with scores of buses and limos bringing large groups to each winery. The good 'ol days are gone.

the convention in France - or so various guide books have told me over the years - is either buy or tip & I have observed that there is generally a gratuities pot prominent. Obviously that does not apply for 'charged for tours'

pk

Appreciation for the wines tasted is perhaps the best thing, but buying a bottle can't hurt. I am sure that I have tasted more than I have bought at some wineries, but an appreciation for the wine is the ultimate ego stroke for the winemaker who is often in charge of tasting in family run businesses.

I will often buy the best I have been served, or the one with the most potential, but sometimes, as Emery suggests one needs a bottle for the next days picnic.

Hi,

my experience in France is that in some small wineries you may be guided by the owner of the winery (specially in the Loire, probably the same in Bourgogne). If you have done your homework, you should be going to wineries that are worth it. In Bordeaux, specially left bank, they do not expect you to purchase and if you ask about it, they will refuse and send you to the négoce.

My approach is to bring a piece of cheese (packed sous vide) as a cumpliment to those that give me part of their time. I usually wait until the end of the visit and, independently that I buy or not, I give it if they have shown interest (sometimes you will visit a winery in which you can feel there is no interest in showing you the vineyards, the facilities or the wines. After all, this is all about people, with good and bad days, moods, etc).

I can feel that they appreciate it. Sometimes they have offered me a bottle of their wines in exchange, but this is not my purpose.

Best,

S.

Cabrales?

;-)

M.

Thats the way wineries in California used to be years ago. They've become a huge tourist attraction now. Many have winery tours but they are generally on set schedules a few times each day. Napa Valley seems more like Disneyland these days with the large crowds. More remote areas such as Lodi or Amador still give personal service.

When I visited Moet et Chandon, there was a fee that (in 1999) translated to about $5, which covered the tour and the tasting, which consisted of just White Star, which I didn't purchase.

Another winery I visited, close to my home (at the time ) of Angers, was Bouvet Ladubay in the town Saumur. That tasting was free, featured

So as far as tastings at French wineries to, I'm 1 for 2 in regards to having to pay.

- Chris

Emery Davis wrote:

Michael Pronay wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@pronay.com:

True. Sometimes it is Cabrales, other times it is Gamoneu, or even La Peral. Something that I think is worth being gifted. In France they seem to have a great respect for cheese. Other times I have taken a bottle of Amontillado or Palo Cortado, but not everybody is ready to accept "oxidated" wine as a quality gift ;-)

S.

Ah I remember the days (25 years ago) when the Moet tour was at nominal charge, covered all aspects of the process at touching distance with a tasting of several styles and culminated with a thimble of Dom perignon.

Last time we went (3/4 years ago) the rather expensive train tour covered a fraction of the cellar and any decent samples cost extra.

Progress!

pk

I have encountered pay only in Rheims (Taittinger, but I recieved a bottle of compte for my efforts (I think the guys with us were "important" and we got ours by mistake) and in the Loire at Chenonceau. Some places such as Guigal require appointments and one must not be late (I was 5 minutes late and missed it)

Have you visited any of the Champagne houses in Epernay? If so, which ones (apparently not Moet, since they charge)? If I go back next year, I'd like to know which ones don't charge. Also, did you find any who offered complimentary tours/tastings in Reims, or is Taittinger the only house that you visted?

- Chris

Joseph Coulter wrote:

Most of the big houses in champagne have tours for groups and IIRC they charge and are a bit more like Disneyland.(Veuve Cliquot does for sure) I have not been to Epernay but suspect the same. I have been to smaller growers outside of Rheims (in the mountain toward Troyes) and they were fun, no English spoken, but fun none the less family style events.

Jon,

I'm in AZ, USA, and many wineries cannot/will not ship/sell to me. If I have driven, and find wines that I like, I buy. My Landcruiser can hold 19 styro- shipper cases, if my wife flies back from SFO, which is often the situation, as she has meetings there. That said, I make note of the wines that I like, and if I have flown, try to acquire them locally. I would do the same in Europe, especially considering the carry-on restrictions with air travel now. Compliments and questions are greatly appreciated by the staff at most tasting rooms. I do not feel obligated to purchase, unless I really want the wine - free, or paid tasting rooms. In nearly every case, I have had the fees waived (especially in Napa, CA, and less often in Sonoma, CA) in most cases, whether I purchased, or not. A great big, heart-felt THANK YOU, has always sufficed. However, if I have driven, I always end up finding wines, that are not available here (AZ) and do buy - up to 19 cases!

In Italy, a good friend ended up purchasing about 10 cases, that were shipped to the US and are now in MY cellar, while he builds his own - getting really crowded down there! All of these were either wines, or vintages, just not available via US retail in AZ. All of the producers shipped for him, and only

I know how you feel, but do not feel the pressure to purchase, unless I feel that the wine needs to be in my cellar.

Enjoy your trip, Hunt