Help! It's My First Trip to a Winery & I Don't Know What to Say

Step #1: relax

Relax. It’s just wine. And here’s an insider secret: wineries are more excited to host you and your friends than you are to visit us. Wineries are happy you’re here. We are grateful you’re spending time with us. We want you to have fun. We can’t wait to share with you why our wines and our vineyards are special. We are vying for first prize in your heart and your palate. These days you can find wine in a bottle, wine in a box, and wine in a can. It’s not fancy. It’s not snobby. It’s not bougie. It’s yummy. So please, take a beat. Take a breath. Prepare to have fun.

Relax! Visiting a winery is fun.

We know a lot about our wines & our vines because it’s our job.

I’m a professional winemaker. It’s my job. I have devoted my vocation, my time, and my heart to making wine that you’ll find delicious. We industry folks also understand that you don’t make wine for a living. So ask us questions, about all kinds of stuff. There are no stupid questions. Really. If you’re visiting Bruliam and you ask me a question that I can’t answer, I’ll ask around, look it up, and get back to you. Heck, I may even send you a note in the mail with the answer to your question!

Ask me about my job. Please!

but if you’re still squeamish, here are five questions to get you started.

What differentiates this vineyard (or winery) from others nearby?

Maybe you’ve heard the adage “great wine starts in the vineyard.” Or “great wines come from great grapes.” It’s true to an extent. Wine growing is farming, and wine making is too. Ask us about it, at your own caution. We loooooooove to talk about soil, terroir, microclimate, degree days, annual rainfall, budbreak, frost warnings, and diurnal temperature fluctuations. If you want to dive deep, we can go there. Other times the best answer is “this vineyard gets more sunshine.” Broad sketches work, too. Frame the kinds of answers you’re hoping for, so we can offer an experience that exceeds your expectations.

Vineyard site informs what you taste in your glass.

Also good to know: we winemakers have strong opinions. Ask 10 winemakers about fermentation yeast and you’ll get 10 divergent answers. This diversity of opinion is what makes wine fun, unique, compelling, and exciting to drink. Every wine tells a specific story of site, vintage, and style. Yeah, it’s corny. Yeah, it’s cringey. But it’s also true.

Wanna know what makes these grapes special? Just ask!

How does this vintage differ from the previous one?

A good winemaker (& an exceptional tasting experience) turns vintage variation into a story. Weather shapes sunshine and warmth which informs harvest decisions and the wine in your glass. Ask us about this year versus last year. I promise we will relish telling you all about it.

What percentage of whole cluster and new oak did you use (psych/sike)?

Winemakers use barrels like a spice box. Different barrels impart different flavors.

Don’t ask this. Telling you “X” % doesn’t reveal a wine story. New oak is a stylistic choice. Some vineyards, varietals, and some wine styles handle more new oak better than others. An oak program is not a moral judgment. The answer is always, “it depends.” Oak is a powerful and useful winemaking tool when used with intention and purpose. If you’re curious about oak barrels, instead ask, “How do you think about new oak?” Or “tell me how new oak changes a wine.” This invites a conversation. I promise that you don’t care whether I used 28% or 34% new French oak barrels on the Sangiacomo Vineyard pinot noir. But oak cooperage as a stand-alone topic is pretty cool. Did you know that barrel companies blind bind on the trees they hope to harvest? May the best bid win!

What’s your favorite food / wine pairing with this bottle? how come?

I love me a good wine & pizza night.

Don’t judge if the answer is always “pizza.” Food/wine pairings needn’t be fussy or costly or precious. They just need to be yummy. That being said, a very delicate white wine may underwhelm your taste buds if paired alongside a sizzling filet mignon drenched in garlic-chive butter. Likewise, a full-bodied, tannic cabernet sauvignon could bury your sole meunière. Ask us for suggestions. But more importantly, ask us WHY. Our goal is to make you to feel confident uncorking this bottle at home and inspire you to share it with friends and family. When you uncork a bottle of Bruliam, I want you flooded with endorphins and the happy memories of your time visiting my winery. We want every bottle to taste as delicious at home as it tasted on vacation (a high bar, indeed). We can help you get there.

disclaimer & legalese…

Do not uncork this bottle unless you are prepared to be wowed. We caution that this bottle may make your life to feel as magical as wine country. If you are allergic to grocery shopping, washing pans, or oven clean-up, consider pairing this bottle with take-out food or pizza delivery. Uncorking this bottle may elicit strong memories of elation, joy, or relaxation. This experience may result in heightened sensitivity to terroir, disparaging thoughts about Burgundy, or overly confident use of the word “structure.” Uncorking this bottle may cause serious side effects, including dropping everything to book an immediate return to Sonoma County. Call your doctor right away if you’re compelled to revisit wine country at the expense of your job security or PTO.  Always drink responsibly. Results may vary by vintage.

Chardonnay paired with a charcuterie board for the win. (aka “Girl Dinner”)

When would you open this bottle — now or later?

Some wines are meant to drink now. Others are shy and need time to mature to their peak expression. We open and taste bottles all day long. Just ask. I promise we have an opinion.

This also opens a nice conversation about wine aging: like what is it? Why do wines change over time? How do wines evolve? What exactly changes?

most importantly, thank you

Thank you for visiting wine country. Thank you for visiting a winery. Thank you for making wine part of your life, your meal, and your table. We are happy you’re here.

If you don’t post it to Instagram, did it even happen? And please don’t forget to tag @bruliamwines.