Appropriate/stylish dress for women at a tasting?

[JKim]

@Charlie Fu

@Todd F r e n c h

Or, wear what Charlie wears:

casual Polo slippers, big ass floppy basketball shorts, purple tank top.

hey man I returned that purple ribbed tank to you already.

Lol. Anxiously awaiting Frenchie’s reply.

[Ian_P]

WOW, never knew what an intense subject this can be!!! I figured the first reply did a fine job of confirming that what I told her to wear was appropriate. Now I see why my wife was concerned, if she came across the wrong person we might get shorted on the tasting. Shoot if I knew it would help the tasting and size of the pours I would make her wear a bikini.

[Matthew_Brown]

@Ian P.

if I knew it would help the tasting and size of the pours I would make her wear a bikini.

Cue the pics of Frenchie in a tank top…

[Bob_Wood]

@Ken V

@Bob Wood

I had a date - STFU, Leenda - who, despite my pleading that appropriate attire for barrel tasting in a cold cellar over Thanksgiving weekend here in Ore-ee-gone would be jeans, socks, boots or clogs, a sweater and a parka, decided she HAD to wear open-toed black patent leather pumps and some ridiculous fluffy jacket that looked like an effing Holstein. WTF?

Without further information, Leenda and I will not rule out the possibility that your date was a Holstein.


But at least you picked a nice Jewish girl.

Greenberg, Goldberg, Iceberg . . .

The real Jewish girl I took wine tasting had the sense to dress appropriately for the temperature and the surroundings.

[Robert.Fleming]

@Bob Wood

The real Jewish girl I took wine tasting had the sense to dress appropriately …

Cargo shorts?

[Bob_Wood]

@Robert.Fleming

@Bob Wood

The real Jewish girl I took wine tasting had the sense to dress appropriately …

Cargo shorts?

Would YOU wear cargo shorts when it’s 40 degrees?

[Fred_Bower]

On the practical front, I would add that if any of your tours could involve a trip to a barrel room/cave, your wife might want a light jacket to avoid getting cold, especially if she doesn’t take well to rapid transitions from warm to cold and back again.

Cheers,
fred

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Stephanie L

Other than the no scent part (which is indeed the most important thing to consider), this whole string both cracks me up and worries me at the same time. Sorry, not meaning any disrespect for anyone so self-conscious, and I totally feel for someone who is uncertain due to the proliferation of this hoity-toity idea of wine in our country. Think about it: someone’s worried about what to wear with one of the USA’s most democratized products (aka anyone can make it, everyone has access to it) at a tasting/winery visit. OK, it’s Napa, the “shrine” of all US wine, and it is fun to dress up, but c’mon! IMHO, this is part of the trouble of the wine industry: the perpetuation of wine as some hoity-toity affair akin to having tea with HRM the Queen, and I’m guessing she WILL be at those wineries listed, and that’s really the root of all this?! First of all, why does the industry perpetuate this hoity-toity, inner-circle notion, and second, why do people continue to support it, instead of simply going out to enjoy wine for wine, AS THEMSELVES versus some false ideal of the industry? Who needs that BS? After this small exemplary string and Boorstin’s painful, eye-opening book (The Americans: The Democratic Experience), and seeing things first hand after having been dragged into the wine industry, and how it itself perpetuates the BS, my little pea brain has come to the conclusion, there’s very little room for individuals–except for Charlie Fu, it seems(!)-- and that’s how the industry wants to keep it. So you better dress the part or else you will be scorned as simply looky-loos versus serious drinkers, and your pours will be shorter than the rest, if you’re not dressed appropriately. (Sorry if I may seem a little scattered: no coffee yet this AM because I’m giving blood in a few hours – we are in a national shortage, you know.)

Amen, Stephanie!

I like to go wine tasting wearing cargo shorts or jeans, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap. Unfortunately, because of this (and my relatively young age – 31), I’m often treated as an ignorant kid who’s out to get his party on. Usually – not always – but usually, my request for a spit bucket stops that line of thinking cold in its tracks. Nonetheless, I find it just as off-putting as you that there are wine regions that seem to require nice threads to attend their wineries; Bdx. comes to mind immediately — guys are expected to wear slacks and a jacket while tasting wine in Bdx.! Gimme a fucking break.

[Rick_Gregory]

Brian - that’s a cultural difference (Bordeaux) though.

Having poured at various tastings, yeah, I did kind of peg the 30 year old guy in a cap, cargo shorts and a tee as someone wanting to drink vs taste… because that’s often true. Tasting room staff should NEVER, EVER show that though… everyone should be treated well because you never know. But face it, in Napa, especially along 29 most people ARE just after getting a buzz and hanging out. If being put in that group bugs someone there’s really only two options… don’t give a crap what they think or dress slightly nicer. Me, I’d opt for the first one… (shockingly).

All that said, in Napa, esp in summer, you’d be fine dressing casually in almost any tasting room I’ve been in.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

I would posit there’s a similar “cultural difference” between Napa and any Central Coast wine sub-region.

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”, which presents me with an option: dress the way I want, and risk being uncomfortable with everyone staring at me for how I’m dressed, or dress the “appropriate” way and not garner the critical attention of others (while being less physically comfortable than I otherwise would be). I’ve experienced this situation at wineries, restaurants, clubs/bars, and other places. Is it right to feel or experience this? I don’t know, and I hardly care ---- that’s not my point ---- my point is that caring about “appropriate dress” is reasonable, even for a wine tasting excursion.

[Rick_Gregory]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I would posit there’s a similar “cultural difference” between Napa and any Central Coast wine sub-region.

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”, which presents me with an option: dress the way I want, and risk being uncomfortable with everyone staring at me for how I’m dressed, or dress the “appropriate” way and not garner the critical attention of others (while being less physically comfortable than I otherwise would be). I’ve experienced this situation at wineries, restaurants, clubs/bars, and other places. Is it right to feel or experience this? I don’t know, and I hardly care ---- that’s not my point ---- my point is that caring about “appropriate dress” is reasonable, even for a wine tasting excursion.

I want to focus on the bold part… You simply can’t wander into a high end restaurant dressed like that and NOT expect some reaction. Look, I’m from Seattle, where people DO NOT dress up… but if you wander into some place like Bouchon for dinner in old flip flops, a tshirt and wrinkled cargo shorts, yeah, people might notice. Honestly, doing that is almost daring people to notice… there IS such a thing as dressing at least somewhat appropriately for different situations. But I’ve gone into Bouchon in khakis and a short sleeved polo with casual shoes and not had any adverse reaction

However, we’re talking Napa tastings and I’ve wandered into tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma many times in shorts and a tee or short sleeved polo or sometimes jeans and not gotten any adverse reaction. I simply don’t believe that people will stare at someone in that dress at most places in Napa. Now, if you wander in in a wrinkled, faded rock band t-shirt and wrinkly cargo shorts with old flip flops? Yeah, you might get a reaction especially if you didn’t shower, your hair’s unkempt, etc. But if you show up showered, hair combed and in clean, unwrinkled clothes? I’ve simply never seen a negative reaction or staring. Note, though, that I don’t spend time at places like Opus One, etc.

B

[H_Wallace_Jr]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”

No- it is totally appropriate (and practically encouraged) everywhere in N. CA.

Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Rick Gregory

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I would posit there’s a similar “cultural difference” between Napa and any Central Coast wine sub-region.

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”, which presents me with an option: dress the way I want, and risk being uncomfortable with everyone staring at me for how I’m dressed, or dress the “appropriate” way and not garner the critical attention of others (while being less physically comfortable than I otherwise would be). I’ve experienced this situation at wineries, restaurants, clubs/bars, and other places. Is it right to feel or experience this? I don’t know, and I hardly care ---- that’s not my point ---- my point is that caring about “appropriate dress” is reasonable, even for a wine tasting excursion.

I want to focus on the bold part… You simply can’t wander into a high end restaurant dressed like that and NOT expect some reaction. Look, I’m from Seattle, where people DO NOT dress up… but if you wander into some place like Bouchon for dinner in old flip flops, a tshirt and wrinkled cargo shorts, yeah, people might notice. Honestly, doing that is almost daring people to notice… there IS such a thing as dressing at least somewhat appropriately for different situations. But I’ve gone into Bouchon in khakis and a short sleeved polo with casual shoes and not had any adverse reaction

However, we’re talking Napa tastings and I’ve wandered into tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma many times in shorts and a tee or short sleeved polo or sometimes jeans and not gotten any adverse reaction. I simply don’t believe that people will stare at someone in that dress at most places in Napa. Now, if you wander in in a wrinkled, faded rock band t-shirt and wrinkly cargo shorts with old flip flops? Yeah, you might get a reaction especially if you didn’t shower, your hair’s unkempt, etc. But if you show up showered, hair combed and in clean, unwrinkled clothes? I’ve simply never seen a negative reaction or staring. Note, though, that I don’t spend time at places like Opus One, etc.

B

Cool. Maybe it just depends on where in Napa one goes to taste. IMO — especially when wine tasting — one should be able to dress comfortably (but not unkempt) and be treated the same as someone who is dressed “more nicely.” It appears you and I approach the wine tasting dress situation similarly — wear something comfortable and not inappropriate, and to hell with what others think.

As for the restaurant thing: well, duh. I didn’t mean to imply that I was talking about Michelin-quality restaurants. I will say, however, that I’ve gone to some “nice” restaurants in nice dark jeans, tucked-in button-up shirt, nice shoes (not sneakers), showered, with my hair combed, and still felt like everyody was staring at me for being under-dressed. Most such experiences have happened in L.A., as that’s where I’ve done most of my fine dining, so perhaps it’s an L.A. thing — I dunno. I’ve gone to many “hipster” or “trendy” L.A. bars where I felt similarly uncomfortable while wearing nice jeans, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap. In the end, I really don’t give a rat’s ass (as I continue to patronize those establishments without changing what I wear when I go there), but it’s still something I notice.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@H Wallace Jr

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”

…
Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

Oh, Hardy … on this we most definitely agree!

[JKim]

@H Wallace Jr

Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

What if they were $300 jean shorts that you got much cheaper at a sample sale that went great with a purple tank top?

[Poppy_Davis]

@H Wallace Jr

Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

How about Pajama Jeans?

[Charlie_Carnes]

@Ian P.

WOW, never knew what an intense subject this can be!!! I figured the first reply did a fine job of confirming that what I told her to wear was appropriate. Now I see why my wife was concerned, if she came across the wrong person we might get shorted on the tasting. Shoot if I knew it would help the tasting and size of the pours I would make her wear a bikini.

Don’t sweat it. It is perfectly normal and rational for your wife to wonder what to wear. In unfamiliar territory we tend to want to fit in more or at least stand out less, it is just a normal human defense response. When traveling, even for something as benign as visiting a winery or two, our fight or flight responses are- or should be- elevated. There are a lot of unknowns to pack into a single outfit, possibly for the entire day. Most likely there could be a fancy breakfast in the works, random places to see, possible nice dinner, nice hotel lobbies, etc. etc. I would always want to err on the side of being a tad overdressed than underdressed. And do remember that your really visiting farms and farmers; most are down to earth and pretty nice. There is some good advice right in the beginning of this post, but if she doesn’t get it right for the first day, she will certainly be a pro by the second and so forth.

And a solid +1 to Nathan Smyth.

[Linda_Baehr]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I’ve gone to many “hipster” or “trendy” L.A. bars where I felt similarly uncomfortable while wearing nice jeans, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap.

Even with the Opeth shirt?

[AKuehn]

@H Wallace Jr

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I understand the whole “wanting to dress appropriately” thing, mostly because the way I want to dress (jeans or shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap) is not “appropriate”

No- it is totally appropriate (and practically encouraged) everywhere in N. CA.

Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

Whether or not jean shorts are fine depends entirely on the quality of the leg that shows below them.

[Ken_V]

@AKuehn

@H Wallace Jr

Jeans and shorts are fine- just don’t make them jean shorts

Whether or not jean shorts are fine depends entirely on the quality of the leg that shows below them.

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