Hip Tastes Blog

Slobs & Snobs R Us
filed under: Regional Spotlight

Seems tasting in the North Fork region of Long Island, NY has taken a - how shall I put this delicately? - raucous turn lately. A frightening but hilarious article in yesterday's NY Times talked of antics like naked drunken romps through vineyards and no-holds-barred drinking (er, pounding) in tasting rooms at some of the area's 30 wineries. Call it growing pains, if you will (New York wine country's only just now really taking off as a tourist destination) - I just call it sad.

pictured: my dear friend Kristin, a dignified bachelorette in Napa

Apparently, tasters who arrive in limos and buses tend to be the worst offenders. Bachelorette parties that end in brides-to-be grinding on top of tables are apparently not uncommon. One tasting room employee referred to the two kinds of tasters they receive as "Slobs & Snobs" - highlighting the strange and uncomfortable juxtaposition you get when a drunken bachelorette is seen grinding next to a seersucker-clad WASP-y type just trying to sip amidst relative peace.

Or, at least, not in a tasting room that's reminiscent of a strip club.

I don't have a lot of patience for groups like this at wineries. Sure - it's a blast to taste through wine country, and getting a little tipsy is often a part of that experience, especially towards the end of the day. But taking your clothes off and running through vineyards? Downing wine by the glassful such that you have to get sick in the spit bucket? Not okay.

I played hostess to a good friend's bachelorette in Napa two weekends ago, and I'm pleased to report that my group was much more low-key than some of those apparently cruising through the North Fork. We kicked the day off with Kir Royales in the limo, then hit up St. Supery in Rutherford for a super nice tour and tasting. We tasted from barrels and then we tasted extensively in the private salon there. Still, no table dancing.

We moved on next to Rutherford Hill Winery, where we tasted still more wine and had a delicious picnic lunch overlooking the Napa Valley below (with more wine, naturally). By the time we left everyone was well plied (but not plastered!) and we all agreed it was a lovely day. Table dancing ensued - but later that night, at a club. Actually, it was bar-top dancing, but at that point of the day who's really nit picking anyway?

My point is this: Celebratory occasions and groups DO go hand-in-hand with wine country, but respect and good manners are key parts to this equation. Wineries are hospitality businesses, at the end of the day, and aim to please visitors; many in the North Fork until lately didn't even charge visitors to taste their wines. Future visitors should thank them for their hospitality and courtesy with decent behavior. After all, there are plenty of strip clubs and bars back in the city. Save that *&#! for Scores when you get back.

Posted by Courtney on July 10, 2007 12:41 PM