Have you ever been to a wine tasting room all by yourself? (Let us know in the comments section below, if so!)
I was really nervous to start Woodinville Wine Blog all by myself. I knew I really wanted to share my discoveries at all the incredible wineries we have here in Woodinville, but didn’t foresee myself wandering around alone exploring them. My boyfriend only drinks beer, and gets really bored in tasting rooms, so I don’t drag him along very often.
I’m not shy, but I felt like it might be weird and awkward to be hanging out having fabulous adventures all by myself, then narcissistically blogging about it! Then I met Jen, and we figured out that we were clicking well and could work together on awesome things.
We made our first venture into a tasting room (Goose Ridge, but they were remodeling and not ready for us to photograph) together nearly two years ago. (Thanks for your kindness to two new bloggers, Chandler Reach!)
We eventually started “splitting up” on our weekday tasting room visits, bringing other friends with us, in order to cover more territory and explore more wineries. (As you can imagine, our friends didn’t complain about being treated to lunch and wine tasting!)
Every so often when we’d go to a new tasting room, we’d see a lone wine taster by themself hanging out at the counter, chatting with the tasting room staff. I wondered if the person was retired, had a flexible work schedule like Jen and I do, or if they were new to town, or if their friends don’t like wine.
When we visit a tasting room we’re busy taking notes, photographing, tasting and learning as much as we can about the winery in a short time, so we’re actually really glad to see just a lone person at the counter next to us instead of a group. We don’t want to distract other guests, for one thing, and we like having the tasting room staff’s attention all to ourselves. That makes weekday wine tastings perfect, and you won’t often see us out in the warehouse district or the Hollywood district on busy weekends.
I finally got up my courage to go to a tasting room alone last May. I popped into Silver Lake Winery Nobody seemed to think it was weird I was there by myself (except me!) and the tasting room staff made me feel very comfortable and welcome. After that, I wasn’t afraid to go to tasting rooms by myself (though I still prefer to go enjoy the experience with Jen or a friend).
If you are one of those people who are comfortable going out to dinner and a movie by yourself, enjoying your own company, I’d encourage you to take the next step. Challenge yourself to visit a Woodinville wine tasting room next time you have a free afternoon and your friends are too busy working (poor slobs) to accompany you. Really, in our tech industry-heavy area, so many people have alternate work schedules, work at home, have flexible schedules or generous days off, that it isn’t at all weird to be in a wine tasting room at 11am on a Tuesday morning.
Research your options in advance, (perhaps browse through our past posts and visit Woodinville Wine Country.com for ideas too). Dress nicely but comfortably, make a plan so you don’t overimbibe or drink and drive, and head out to Woodinville. If you go during the week, parking will be super easy; but you’ll find the more unique, lesser-known wineries open only on weekends.
I’d recommend going to lunch or dinner at one of our wonderful restaurants in Woodinville before beginning your wine tasting. Purple Cafe or The Commons perhaps; Heritage or The Hollywood Tavern, Vivi Pizzeria or Bistro at Hollywood Schoolhouse. I’ve dined solo at all of those places and never feel stared at or uncomfortable enjoying a meal alone.
Keep in mind that the tasting staff is there to inform, educate and teach you about their winery’s wine (and sell it to you) but not to entertain you all day. (I have seen a couple lonely old guys that seem to hang around far too long at wine tasting rooms with nice female tasting room staff). Definitely don’t overstay your welcome, but appreciate your opportunity for some personal service, a non-rushed tasting and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it in.
Another benefit is picking exactly what kind of wine you want to taste, without conflicting opinions from your friends. (Several of my friends only drink whites, or only drink reds, or refuse to try a Chardonnay, etc).
And the best part of going wine tasting all by yourself? Nobody will witness how many bottles of wine you buy to take home, and you won’t have to share your wine with somebody else if you don’t want to!
Let us know in the comments below if you regularly go taste wine by yourself, or if you have been shy and hesitant about it!
-Carrie
