Dear LWE, I live on the central coast of California, where you know there a numerous wineries to taste at. I find that I have been too timid to spit out any wine that I have found unpleasant to me thus making everything taste bitter by the third/fourth pour. Where should I spit the wine out into the dump or glass I am using at the winery and how long do you swish/chew before spitting?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
When you visit a winery tasting room, spittoons of some kind are provided for obvious reasons. If not, then you should ask for one! By all means, avoid using your tasting glass, or for that matter any clear glass as it is a very unappealing sight to others. If you have the opportunity to taste from tank or barrel inside the winery - which is usually reserved for professionals - the winemaker will tell you where you can spit (for example, a drainage channel which runs alongside the tanks).
Regarding how long to "chew" the wine, and assuming you have first put your nose to the glass a couple of times to capture the initial aromatic qualities, the best approach is to move the wine around in your mouth for a few seconds so as to coat all of your taste buds and release aromas which will ascend your retronasal passages, and then spit out the wine. Focus on the sensations and aroma for a minute or so after spitting to get a good picture of the wine, and before tasting another wine.
