Nobody wants to be the person who does something awkward at a winery without realizing it. The good news is that tasting room etiquette is mostly common sense. But there are a few things that trip people up, and we get asked about them constantly. Here’s what the wineries want you to know (and what’ll make your day go more smoothly).

Mind the nose

Wine tasting is as much about smell as it is about taste. The two are deeply connected, and anything competing with the wine’s aromas will change how it tastes to you. So when you’re getting ready for your day, skip the cologne, perfume, and scented lotions. It seems like a small thing, but it makes a real difference, both for your own experience and for everyone around you at the bar.

Same goes for gum and breath mints. We’ve watched people pop Altoids on the way into a tasting room and then come out saying every wine tasted the same. That’s not the wine’s fault. Menthol and strong mint basically numb your palate. If you want fresh breath, brush your teeth before you head out and leave it at that.

Appointments & Availability

There are hundreds of wineries across Napa and Sonoma, and a good number are open to walk-ins seven days a week. But plenty of others keep limited hours or are appointment-only. Always confirm before you show up, especially if your group is larger than six. Smaller wineries physically can’t accommodate big groups, and even larger properties typically require an appointment for parties of eight or more.

On the flip side, be mindful of time once you’re there. Relax, enjoy the wine, take it in. But if you’ve been lingering well past your window, there’s probably another group with a reservation coming in behind you. Wrapping up gracefully is part of being a good guest.

Manners

Everyone in the tasting room is there to discover and enjoy wine, and the staff is trying to treat you like a guest in their home. Nothing derails that faster than the person who treats it like a bar at 11pm. If you want to get loud and rowdy, save it for dinner.

Also, don’t be the person who holds the host hostage with your wine knowledge. We hear about this from guests all the time. Someone in the group decides every pour is an opportunity to demonstrate what they know, and it shuts down the conversation for everyone else. The host is there for the whole group. Let them do their job, and you’ll get more out of it too.

Sharing

If you’re doing a bar tasting or table service tasting, it’s completely fine for two people to share a single flight. Wineries expect it and nobody will bat an eye. It’s actually a smart move if you want to manage both your spending and your intake over a full day of tasting.

For tours, sit-down tastings, and other elevated experiences, each person will need their own spot. Those are hosted, structured appointments and they’re priced per guest.

Dumping and Spitting

Pouring out wine you don’t want to finish is completely normal and nobody will judge you for it. If you’re hitting three or four wineries in a day, you’ll be a lot happier by the last stop if you’re not drinking every pour to the bottom. Dump buckets are always within arm’s reach.

If you want to go full pro, you can spit. Just ask for your own cup. It’s what winemakers and sommeliers do when they’re evaluating dozens of wines in a session, and there’s nothing weird about it. One thing that probably goes without saying but we’ll say it anyway: don’t dare someone in your group to drink from the dump bucket.

Tipping

This is the question we get asked more than any other. The short answer: it’s up to you. Tasting rooms aren’t bars, and your host’s compensation isn’t built around tips the way a bartender’s is. That said, if your host went above and beyond (poured something special that wasn’t on the list, spent extra time with your group, made the experience genuinely memorable), a tip is a thoughtful way to acknowledge that.

We’re believers in rewarding great service. If the experience felt worth it, tip. If you’re still on the fence, buy some wine. That’s the best thing you can do for any winery.

The Short Version

Be on time, be present, skip the cologne, and treat the tasting room like someone’s home. Do that and you’ll have a great time at every stop. And if you’d rather not think about any of this logistics stuff at all, that’s kind of our whole thing. We handle the planning, the driving, and the day-of details so you can just focus on the wine.