1. Plan your trip carefully. Make a list of the wineries you would like to visit. Use a map to sequence visits that are relatively close to each other. Distances can be misleading.

2. If you have already been to the famous wine districts, consider areas that are off the beaten path such as Monterey-Santa Cruz, Livermore, and the Sierras in California. Many of the wineries there don’t even charge for tasting. The experience will be more intimate, but it may not be as polished.

3. Call ahead to the wineries for tasting room hours as well as the tasting fee. An appointment may be required at smaller wineries.

4. Don’t be a a slave to your plan; leave room for flexibility. You might just pass an interesting looking winery. Go for it!

5. The larger wineries will offer slick tours and tastings, but they get a crowd and can’t give you much individual attention. Plan on some large/famous wineries with their beautiful gardens and estate-like grounds (Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma) but don’t miss some smaller, more intimate, rustic, and charming wineries (Halter Ranch Vineyards, Paso Robles). The tasting rooms can be as simple as a converted garage (Carr Vineyards, Santa Barbara) or an elegant, polished, and stately venue (Silver Oak Vineyards, Napa).

6. Although the main attraction at each winery for most people is the tasting room, look into some other experiences such as private tours, barrel tastings, library wine tastings, cave and cellar tours, and food pairing demonstrations.

7. Plan on visiting no more than three wineries a day. This may not sound like many, but take into consideration driving between each, tasting time at each, and lunch. That makes for a full day; after all this should not be a marathon of how many wineries you can visit in one day or how much wine you can drink.

8. Professionals taste and spit, amateurs drink. You are not obligated to taste every wine, nor are you obligated to drink all the wine that is poured. Make use of the dump buckets. You might want to practice at home before you go. With just a little practice, tasting and spitting can yield nearly as much sensory information from a wine as swallowing.

9. It isn’t classy to walk into a wine tasting room inebriated. If you do swallow, pace yourself, drink plenty of water, and pack or plan a lunch for each day. And most importantly, don’t drive if you think you’ve had too much. Hire a driver or bring a designated driver with you. Especially in a tourist area like Napa Valley, the local police may be waiting for you.

10. When you enter the tasting room, go to the tasting bar where there will typically be special containers or dump buckets for spitting or dumping and a tasting sheet listing the wines available for tasting that day along with tasting notes and prices. Some tasting rooms will also have crackers or cheese to nibble between each tasting.

11. The wine tasting staff will guide you through the tastings. They serve approximately one ounce of each wine; whites first, followed by reds (lighter to fuller-bodied) and then dessert wine if available. Take your time and taste each wine slowly, savoring each sip. Refer to the tasting notes provided by the winery to help evaluate the aromas and flavors of each wine.

12. Ask questions if the staff are not inundated with visitors. If it is busy, don’t hog the staff.

13. Never ask for a second pour; it is considered rude. This is a tasting, not a drinking. Also, don’t name drop about other wineries. You are here to learn about this winery, not to show off.

14. Most of the wines offered for tasting are also available for purchase. It is not necessary, but it is good etiquette to purchase a bottle or two if you enjoyed what you’ve tasted. Tipping is not expected, but use your judgment.