Tips for the novice wine taster

An often-overlooked truth about wine tasting: The intention is not to get drunk, or even a buzz. For that, go to a wine bar.

The intention of a wine tasting is to taste wine, with the pourer hoping you like the taste enough to buy a bottle. Or a case. Or two.

Arizona's wine country still is small enough that the winemakers themselves might be pouring your wine. And if you're visiting on a weekday, they allow you to take your time and ask all the questions you want.

Some tips for the first-time visitor to wine country:

To be safe, designate a driver. A friend who doesn't like wine is a perfect companion for this trip. Ply him or her with the promise of a favorite libation later.

Most wineries in Arizona charge for tastings. Figure about $3 to $10 for a tasting. Some include a glass with the winery's logo.

Although a free tasting might sound best, paying for a tasting helps alleviate the
awkwardness of not purchasing anything. If nothing strikes you as tempting enough for a whole bottle, you can pay your tasting fee and politely hit the highway.

Some wineries will pour a set list of wines. Others will let you choose what you like -- lots of whites or lots of reds or a sampling of each. If you're not sure what to taste, talk to your server, who can guide you based on your tastes and the winery's specialties.

If you're considering buying a bottle and want to taste something again, let the pourer know. Usually you can retaste a wine.

A big part of wine tasting involves your nose. Stick your nose into the glass and smell the aromas. Then drink, holding the wine in your mouth for a while to collect all the tastes. Repeat.

A typical tasting will get you four or five 1-ounce pours of wine. A usual wineglass is 5 ounces, so a typical round of tastes will equal about a glass of wine. Pace yourself accordingly.

Splitting a tasting is a good idea. Two people can get a sip from a pouring, and the
result is equal to about a half-glass of wine. And wineries don't discourage this.

Make friends with the dump bucket. It's there for a reason. Don't feel obligated to
finish your pour. Once you've tasted, it's perfectly fine -- even expected -- to dump the remaining wine in the bucket on the counter or on the floor. There will likely be one or two wines you particularly like and want to finish. But using the dump bucket gives you the chance to taste more wines.

Take the trip slowly. At most, you probably can visit three or four wineries in a row.
Start the day with a good meal and bring along snacks, as food helps slow alcohol absorption.

Pack a picnic. Most wineries are on beautiful grounds, and some encourage picnics. Some bread, cheese and sliced meat are the perfect companions for tastings. They can also help you taste how certain wines work with food.