Following are our ironclad beliefs about tasting rooms and wineries.

1. The bigger the sales floor, the worse the wine. We don’t go to wineries to buy mustard, cook books, t-shirts, or coasters.Without fail, fancy-schmancy tasting rooms with tasteful products serve not-so-    tasty wine.

2. If you see a tour bus in the lot, leave. If the tourists are wearing fanny packs,run out of the room.

3.Reserve is just another word for expensive. Most wineries charge more for their “reserve” pours. Sounds good. Often isn’t.
4.The Wine Spectator is not the word of God. Let’s just say what they consider a “93” and what we tasted were far apart.

5.Be nice to the tasting room employees and they’ll be nice to you.Chances are you’ll get a few extra tastes; if you’re lucky, you’ll be offered some     “off the menu” selections or perhaps a winemaker’s private tour—and pour.

6.Most winery tours are boring. Oh look, another vat.

7.Stay away from Italian Villas that aren’t in Italy
The gold standard for this is Ferrari-Carano in Healdsburg. Big,     beautiful villa. Stunning grounds. Mediocre wine.