A general understanding of the art of drinking, serving, and tasting will add greatly to your enjoyment of this alcoholic beverage. Like most things, the more you learn about wine, the more fascinating the subject becomes. Narsai David, vintner (www.narsaiwine.com), and food and wine editor at KCBS Radio Station in San Francisco, remarks, “The objective remains the same: to share the simple pleasures of cooking, food and wine through education.” Rick Walker, grammy award winning music producer and founder of Napa Valley’s Festival Del Sole (www.festivaldelsole.com), an annual food, music, and wine festival adds, “It’s the simple pleasures in life that bring joy. As Robert Louis Stevenson said, wine is bottled poetry.”
Stemware Robert Mondavi You may use an all-purpose wine glass for both red and white wines, but it will add to the pleasure of your guests to have the proper glass for each course.
• Many wineries charge tasting fees that are generally applied to the purchase. It is not mandatory that you buy wine, and you should purchase only what you desire. At boutique wineries (small, family-owned) where appointments are often required, it’s nice to buy at least one bottle. • White wines are generally offered first, followed by reds and then dessert wines. Within these categories, lighter-bodied wines precede fuller-bodied ones. Water and crackers may be offered to cleanse the palate between each pouring. • Do not feel that you need to sample every wine offered; taste only what appeals to you. • Correct wine etiquette does not dictate that you must finish every glass. Winery tasting rooms provide jars, known as “spittoons,” for emptying your glass. They are not for tipping, just wine!
http://37.60.249.202/~expertet/wp-content/uploads/about-lisa.jpg Lisa Mirza Grotts is a recognized etiquette expert, an on-air contributor, and the author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette. She is a former director of protocol for the city and county of San Francisco and the founder and CEO of The AML Group (Lisagrotts.com), certified etiquette and protocol consultants. Her clients range from Stanford Hospital to Cornell University and Levi Strauss. She has been quoted by Condé Nast Traveler, InStyle magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the New York Times. To learn more about Lisa, follow her on Twitter.com/LisaGrotts and Facebook.com/LisaGrotts
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