It's all very pretty. The owners offer a tour of the grounds, and then the tasting begins. You try a too-dry Chardonnay and then a too-sweet Riesling, but it's early yet, so you just nibble on a cracker or two until the bus boards again for the next stop. Then it's on down the road to a much bigger operation. The second vineyard has huge buildings, lots of employees, and the feeling of being inside a giant chemistry set. The wines there are Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, and you get caught up in the spirit of the moment and buy a bottle of the Zin. Joan from the bus has started guzzling the samples, but you have vowed to be a new person today, so you don't judge her.
By the third vineyard, you're starving. It's smaller than the last place, but much more crowded. They do seem to be offering appetizers, though, and a special-occasion sampling of some of their old-cellar reserve.
Do you take the opportunity to try out this rare wine?
Or are you so hungry that you only have eyes for the hors d'oeuvres?
