Private Wine Tasting Experience

For my cousin’s 30th birthday she hired a senior wine educator for a private wine tasting. Toni Barnes works on the Grgich Hills Estate Vineyard in Napa Valley. This was by far the best wine tasting I’ve ever experienced. We sampled a total of 10 different wines; 5 white wines, 4 red wines and 1 rose. If you’re ever in Napa Valley I HIGHLY suggest you check out Grgich Hills Estate. Toni dropped tons of gems with ALLL her black girl magic:

My favorite part: GRAPE STOMPING!! complete with a souvenir shirt

1.      When swirling your wine before tasting, swirl on a hard surface instead of in the air .

 2. Screw top wines are becoming increasingly more popular. Screw tops offer great convenience and should enjoyed in one setting.

 3.    Wine Storage

White wine should be stored at 55 degrees.

Red wine should be stored at 60 degrees.

 Wine is supposed to be stored on its side or downward, and should always be touching the cork.

During the wine tasting I asked the question which brand of “Grocery Store” wine is the best and I was told NONE… (Don’t shoot the messenger)

 The reason being, as previously stated wine should be store on its side or downward. At most major chain stores wine is not the main focus, so it is not stored properly or moved around regularly and Is usually massed produced.

4. The cork of the wine is made from a cork tree that grows in Portugal.

5. No need to spend lots of money on a fancy decanter. They are great for décor but hard to clean and unnecessary for aerating wine. Instead, invest in an aerator from amazon.

 6. Have you ever wonder what’s the difference between Syrah and Shiraz?

Syrah is made in America.

Shiraz is made in Australia.

 7. Climate plays a huge deal when it comes to the taste of wine. Grapes grown in warm regions produces more sugar. Grapes grown in cooler regions produce a more acidic taste.