The next impression you’re going to get from a winery (and don’t discount its importance) is the staff behind the tasting room bar. In some cases, there may be another receptionist or representative of the winery. In any event, your next interaction with the winery (with the human element) will really set the mood. I’ve found, in fact, that in spite of your first impression, or even the quality of the wine, the time you end up spending at the winery is directly proportional to the affect of this element. Note that the 9's and 10's are the ones who will reveal everything they know about their winery and make you even that much smarter about the wine you're enjoying. These are the people that provide me content for the Reviews page.
Score Primer
(1-5) The personnel are surly, unwelcoming, and snobbish with little or no interaction with the clientele. These people are just pourers and nothing more.
6 Here you have pourers with a little personal interaction, but you might get the sense that they just don’t like your haircut.
7 These are employees with a basic knowledge about the wines they’re pouring. They are moderately comfortable with sharing information when asked directly.
8 Now you have people who are really starting to represent their winery. They demonstrate a pride in their wines. In most cases, these are people who simply staff the tasting room, but you’d swear that they nurtured the grapes themselves. They openly and freely offer information about how the wines were made, the grapes grown, and more. These also start offering their personal tastes with customers and inquire about their own.
9 Now we’re talking about some special people! They are genuinely personable with an obvious agenda of making your tasting experience a priority. They know the wines very well and are likely on a first name basis with the winemaker. These are also people who are interested in you, as a client and a person. They want to talk to you about where you’re from, where you’ve been, and where you’re going! They may even suggest a few places!
10 It’s hard to imagine anyone better than the last, but there they are! True extroverts, they get more excited by your excitement. They share ideas and recipes about how to better enjoy their wine, recommend dining experiences, or even make a call to get you in the door of an exclusive restaurant. You’ll hear anecdotes and pieces of the winery’s history that’ll really add flavor and character to what will be a truly memorable experience. You’ll go home remembering their name, and when you return, they’ll remember yours.
