I have pretty much tightened up my tasting appointment for my impending assault on Napa Valley in October. I have three tastings that start at 10:00 and one a 10:30. Some wineries start even earlier that are open to the general public. Outside of a wine trip, and in the real world, I would almost never start drinking wine this early.
Bill,
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. Just think of all the people like yourself that are trying to get in as many wineries as they can in a short amount of time. Close to the Bay area, there are probably a lot of restaurant people that make day trips up to the valley that couldn’t do it any there time. I guess its no different than liquor stores be open at 8am
Last June, We starting throwing down with Mike O around 930am. 16%+ Zins and no spitting.
Breakfast of Champions.
Not something I could or would want to do everyday.
Less I started spitting.
I think it’s great. When I’m in wine country I’m tempted to drink whatever bottles might be in my room so knowing I am heading out to a winery is good enough to keep me off of them. Plus they are up working and what else would you be doing? Love getting some non-tourist time with the staff also.
I have found that if I don’t start tasting that early, I can’t fit in 3 appointments a day, plus lunch…so while I don’t usually drink that early, it is vacation, so I take one for the team
I have had tasting appts as early as 9am. Like Cris said, most winemakers have no problems with meeting an ITB’er or a serious customer early for tasting, as it’s more of a serious session rather than just hanging and drinking.
Frankly I am bummed out and sometimes even a little upset when I schedule an appointment and just get stuck in the tasting room with a sales manager. I want barrel samples!