Questions to ask during your wine tasting...

On the several tastings I have been to, I have noticed that most people are usually  do not ask questions.  Most generally I have seen 3 types of people at wineries.  The first type are usually new comers or first timers, whom are usually very quiet, tightly held to the counter, and listen eagerly to what the host is telling them.  Don't get me wrong this is good!  Listening is always more important than talking.  The second type usually pile in from a limo or bus off a wine tour.  These are tourists or locals just out having fun, have a taste, buy some wine, and move on.  They don't seem to linger around long enough to get a sense of community about the vineyard.  The third type of person I have noticed are devoted patrons.  These folks know what they want.  They normally come into the winery, buy their wine and move to a table or chair to lounge, drink and talk.  They don't hang around the bar and usually never share their thoughts on wine outside their table, unless you happen to engage them in off-handed conversation.   So what I am describing is the wine tasting environment that I have come to understand.  I am probably a category of a fourth type of person. I find that I like to move through the environment, engaging host, staff, and patrons alike to gain insights and knowledge about the art and science of wine.  The best tools for a person like me is a friendly smile, some stories to share and some QUESTIONS.  So to help build a richer wine tasting experience, I am putting together a list of questions that anyone can ask.  Keep in mind questions are like junctions to different roads.  Sometimes asking the same question to different people will take you on a different conversation journey...Don't be afraid to reuse questions, even if you know the answer already.

I also want to say that in making a list of questions to use, you don't need to ask them all at one winery.  Its not about sounding important, its about learning about the wine you are drinking.  Don't push the questions to the point that you are wasting someones time and don't ecxpect them to teach you how to make wine.

An non-risky approach I like (if I feel intimidated by the situation) is to keep it simple and focus on the basics. There are three basic things you need to assess when tasting wine: the appearance, the nose (aroma) and the mouth (flavor).  Base your questions on that.  If you have time, definitely expand on more general or focused information.  

Help me add to the list below:

• What is the difference between wine fermented in steel versus in oak?
• What food would be a good pairing for this wine?
• At what temperature should I serve this wine?
• What is the best way to store this wine and how long can I keep it before I open it?
• What awards has this wine won?
• What is the most popular wine at this vineyard?
• Who is the winemaker?
• What is the winemakers background?  
• Does the winemaker have a preferred wine on the list?
• Can you tell me about the vineyards soil and climate?  How does this affect the wine?
• What is the vineyards best year for reds/whites? 
• What is the best  year for this variety?