Embracing your inner wine lover this weekend and attending the always popular Winefest? Whether you’re a seasoned Winefest-er or a first timer, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the hundreds of wines offered up for tasting.
Keep all your grapes in a row and get the most out of the experience with these six helpful Winefest tips.
Eat something before you head there
There will be some tasty small bites to nibble on while you’re taking a break in between glasses of wine, but that should not be mistaken as dinner. Have a light meal before leaving your house. If you start with an empty stomach, you could be feeling the wine in no time.
Don’t dress to the nines
Everyone loves a good night out, but you don’t need to wear six-inch stilletos and hot couture to enjoy Winefest. Smart casual is the way to go here, with some stylish, but comfortable shoes on as it’s primarily a standing event and seats are few and far between.
Go for the unusual first
With nearly 100 wineries participating in the weekend-long event, it’s always hard to decide where to sip first. We say don’t begin with the popular, mass-market labels. Instead, start your tastebuds off with some unique wine selections from Israel and Holland.
Keep track of your favourite bottles
Feel free to bring a little pad of paper or notebook to jot down tasting/pairing notes or quickly take a snapshot with your phone of any bottles you’ve enjoyed and reference later when you’re out shopping for some wine.
Pace yourself
This kind of goes without saying, but it’s a wine festival, not an “all you can drink” festival. It’s A-OK to spit out a wine after tasting; that’s what the spitunes are there for. The person pouring the wine might appreciate your couth and be inclined to offer you a taste of something from under the counter where the better bottles are kept.
Plan a safe ride home
It may seem like you’ve had only a few tastes but those tastes add up and chances are you’re over the 0.05 legal limit. Decide how you’re going to get home before you go so you’re not tempted to drive when you probably shouldn’t. There are usually plenty of taxis in the vicinity.
For more information on Winefest go to celebratewinefest.com
This story was part of Avenue‘s free weekly Food & Drink Newsletter. Sign up now and get fresh dining news in your inbox every Tuesday.