Spitting while Tasting
On my early trips to Napa and Sonoma, I thought spitting wine out after drinking it was rude. Somehow, I thought it conveyed disrespect to the wine maker or winery owner. If I spat their wine, it meant I didn’t like it. I also didn’t want to look funny spitting wine into a spittoon in front of all the other guests. In addition, I didn’t like wasting good wine. It was in front of me, and it is delicious, so why not drink it? There are several reasons to spit.
First, wine tasting is different than wine drinking. When you are tasting, the employees, wine maker, and winery owner expect you to spit. When they are tasting, they do the exact same thing, and they will likely take you more seriously if you spit. It is not rude to spit. It is not rude to poor excess wine in your glass out after you’ve dissected the wine to your satisfaction.
When you’re wine tasting, you’re likely going to taste all day. There is no way you can get a true sense of what each wine tastes like and pick up on the subtle notes of each wine if you do not spit. Spitting keeps you fresh for the next tasting. It keeps you alert to the subtleties that make wine worth drinking. If you choose not to spit, you will become more and more intoxicated. It is true that if you attend one tasting and consume each sample, you will have had about a glass and a half of wine. That’s doable for sure. However, if you’re like me, you want to fit in several tastings throughout the day while in wine country. You’re there, right? You might as well make the most of it. The truth is that if you go to three different wineries throughout the day and consume all of what’s offered, you’ll become more and more intoxicated throughout the day. If you drink wine, then no doubt you enjoy a wine buzz. But, why not save it for the end of the day on the porch or balcony instead of while you’re touring wine country.
Spitting actually gives you a unique perspective on the wine. Consuming everything can actually dull some of the flavors fo the wine. Spitting typically brings all of the flavors out after it leaves your mouth. If you want to truly experience everything the wine has to offer, spitting your tastings is the way to go.
Spitting frees you up to drink wine after you’ve tasted. On those early trips to Napa and Sonoma, I couldn’t really taste the wine by the end of the day. This was a bummer when I wanted to choose to have a wine with dinner or have a glass out on the porch. Additionally, drinking wine dehydrates you pretty fast, and it’s hard to get enough water while you’re traveling through wine country. When I was consuming everything, I was feeling pretty awful by the end of the day, and it was hard to enjoy the evenings after the tastings. Now that I spit on a regular basis, I am alert and ready to enjoy the evenings in wine country, and it’s the best experience I’ve had.
How to spit
Spitting is a technique you should practice at home. The first time I spat, I dribbled wine all down the front of my shirt, which was extremely embarrassing. It happened in front of other guests, and my friends still like to bring it up. I didn’t truly understand spitting until I was taught how on my trip to France. It is simple, but you should try it a few times to ensure you’ve go the hang of it. Here are the basics.
Let gravity help you. Position the spittoon under your mouth. Do not be afraid to take the spittoon from wherever it is sitting.
Pull your chin back so that your mouth is pointed down towards the spittoon.
Gather the wine at the front of your mouth.
Open your mouth with a very slight blowing motion to propel the wine into the spittoon.
If you have facial hair like I do, I recommend asking for a napkin to dab your chin. Sometimes the liquid can get stuck in your beard.
Try to avoid
Facing forward. If you spit facing forward, the wine will dribble down your chin and onto your shirt.
Pushing the wine out of your mouth with lots of force. It works, but when the liquid hits the other liquid in the spittoon, some of it tends to bounce back up, which is gross.
Tipping the spittoon towards you.
Pushing the wine through your teeth.
With a couple of practice sessions, you can become an expert in no time. Believe me, when you spit at a tasting, the people in the industry tend to take you more seriously, not less. You’ll be amazed at how differently people “in the know” will treat you. It will also help you continue to enjoy the experience throughout your day.
Happy tasting, friends!