Join us for a wine tasting at Domaine Bousquet

Key takeaways:

• Wine tastings can range from large events with multiple winemakers to intimate gatherings.
• The best wine tastings take place next to the vineyards where the grapes are grown.
• Attending a wine tasting is a great way to learn more about a winery and its approach to the art of winemaking.
• Dress for comfort and ease.
• Understand the rules of spitting but know that you can swallow the wine if you prefer.
• Don’t forget to eat. You don’t want to have too much wine on an empty stomach.
• Take notes and ask questions. Wine tastings can be a learning experience.

Wine tastings give you the chance to try a variety of wines, but beyond being a taste testing session, they also help you learn more about these wines. At a wine tasting, you get to explore new types of wine and hone in on the varieties that you like best. You also get to compare and contrast how they were made. 

These events can be held at all types of venues. There are wine tastings with dozens of wine purveyors in large conference rooms but there are also little tasting events where a single company gets the chance to show off their products. The most fun wine tastings typically happen at vineyards where you get to sip wine next to the vines where the grapes were harvested. 

At Domaine Bousquet, we love to welcome visitors for wine tastings, but we also understand these events can be intimidating for people who have never attended a tasting before. In this guide, we provide an overview of what to expect at a wine tasting, whether it’s at our vineyard or another location and then we explain the process of booking a wine tasting at our venue. Here’s what you need to know:

Dress for the occasion

Make sure that you choose an outfit that is right for the occasion. If you’re going to be standing a lot or touring a vineyard, for example, you should wear comfortable shoes. Most people also want to avoid overly long sleeves, dangly jewelry, or anything else that can get in the way of tasting and holding glasses. 

Stay away from wearing fragrances

At a tasting, the wine is the star – its taste, its body, and its aroma. Whenever possible, you want to avoid bringing in distractions. Stay away from wearing fragrances or anything else that may disrupt your ability to smell the wine. 

Make a plan

To make the most of your wine tasting, you may want to make a plan before you arrive. At big events, narrow in on the winemakers you want to visit first.  If you’re going to a vineyard, check out the company’s wines beforehand to ensure that you know which ones you want to try. 

If you don’t get a chance to make a plan, don’t worry. The host of the wine tasting can direct you toward the wines that you should try based on your preferences. They can help you find the best options while also encouraging you to try new varieties that are outside your comfort zone. 

Eat something

A few sips of each variety can add up quickly when you’re trying multiple wines. Don’t approach these events on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat something before the wine tasting or consider booking a dinner as part of your day of fun. Don’t get caught dealing with the effects of too much wine on an empty stomach.

Spit if you like

If you’ve never spit at a wine tasting, it can feel awkward the first few times. But don’t worry – the staff and the seasoned tasters are all used to spitting. Spitting out the wine allows you to taste as much as you like without worrying about the effects of consuming too much alcohol. 

Most wine tastings will have designated spots for spitting. Get close to the bowl and spit slowly to avoid making a mess or having any of the wine splash back at you. If you end up with wine in your glass that you don’t want to drink, it is perfectly acceptable to pour that into the spitting bowl as well. 

That said, you don’t have to spit. You can try the wine and swallow if you like. Ultimately, the choice is up to each taster and both options are perfectly acceptable at all wine tastings.

Take notes

When you’re trying the best wine you’ve ever tasted, you probably think you’ll remember it forever, but if you’re like most people, you’ll forget the name of that perfect organic red wine as soon as you leave the tasting. Do future you a favor and take notes.

Write down the wines you like the best and jot down a few notes about why you liked each variety. Then, you’ll be armed with quality information when you are ready to stock up your wine collection. Don’t want to carry a notebook? Just use your phone to snap photos of your favorites. 

Ask questions

You can learn a lot about wine at a tasting event. Ask the winemakers about their processes. Talk with them about different styles of grapes, vintages, and wine regions and turn the tasting into an educational event. 

Book a wine tasting at Domaine Bousquet

Domaine Bousquet is the leading organic wine producer in Argentina and we would love to show you our vineyards and let you sample our wines. Our wine tasting tours start in the vineyards and end with a tasting in our underground cellar. We have a variety of wine tasting options including our three lines of premium, reserve, and grand reserve wines. 

We offer tours every day from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., including on holidays, and although we welcome drive-ups, we recommend making a booking to reserve your spot. You can reach us over email, on the phone, or using WhatsApp, or you can use our online booking tool to make a reservation. You simply list the number of people in your party and we let you know when we have available slots.

 Contact Domaine Bousquet to learn more

Have additional questions about wine tastings? Want to book a spot for your group at an upcoming wine tasting? Then, contact us today. We look forward to introducing you to the wines we make at Domaine Bousquet. We also take reservations for the Gaia Experience where you can sip our wines while enjoying a high-end gastronomical adventure at a table overlooking our vineyards.