How to prepare for a wine show

So, you’re going to La Grande Dégustation de Montréal, Raspipav or any other wine show, and you’re wondering how to manage your time so you can properly taste your favourite products. Here are a few rules that, in my opinion, you should follow for a successful tasting, no matter the size of the wine show.

Before La Grande Dégustation or any wine fair

Plan, plan and plan some more

It sounds silly, but to prepare properly for a wine show, you have to plan. What do you want to taste? Unfortunately (or fortunately, and your system will thank you), it will be impossible to taste all of the 1,700 products on offer at La Grande Dégustation. You will therefore have to make choices. How? By going through the exhibitors, the products and the floor plan. Make yourself a list and stick to it. Be efficient. Remember, there are two floors at La Grande Dégustation de Montréal.

Eat well and stay hydrated

It may seem ridiculous, but make sure you eat well before you leave. A good breakfast or a good lunch. Even though you will be spitting out many of the drinks you taste (I’ll explain what that means below for the uninitiated), you will still feel the alcohol, and a little liquid will probably make its way to your stomach. At La Grande Dégustation, though this isn’t the case at every wine show, there are restaurants and food kiosks on site, including Morso (pizza), Oysters & Caviar, Fromagerie Hamel, L’Amour du Pain and more (I also suggest bringing your own snacks if you have specific tastes). Don’t forget to drink water too, it’s important.

If possible, buy your ticket online. You might arrive on site to find there are no tickets left, so get ahead of it. Also, don’t forget your tasting coupons and the SAQ app, at some shows in Québec, if you want to buy wines you’ve tasted on site.

If you don’t feel well, your head is spinning, or the alcohol seems to have taken over, take a moment to sit down, drink some water and eat something. There’s nothing embarrassing about it, it can happen to anyone. We all have a different “tolerance threshold” for alcohol.

What to wear

Dress accordingly and leave your coat at the coat check. Wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll be on your feet for about 8 to 9 hours if you stay for the whole show. Ladies, avoid high heels, you will regret them. Keep in mind that it can get very hot at the various shows, even stifling at times when many people are present. Perfume is also sometimes unwelcome at wine shows, and some shows ban it entirely (have a look at the rules), but, like everything, go easy on it. You may also want to avoid light colours: a splash of red wine on your clothes happens so quickly! Finally, big bags aren’t the best idea, as they can cause accidents and take up an enormous amount of space.

At the wine show

Arrival

To get there, take public transit or a taxi, but try to leave the car at home. You’re going to be drinking alcohol, so be responsible and avoid sad incidents.

Arrive early, before opening time if possible, because there will be a long line (there always is), and it’s often worse when it rains. You also want to maximize your tasting time and not waste any of it.

Have your ticket and your coupons with you. At La Grande Dégustation de Montréal, you will be given a wristband at the entrance.

How to manage your tasting

Whatever the show, I advise you to start with the wines and finish with the spirits. Because of their higher alcohol content, spirits risk throwing off your palate completely, not to mention the different types, whether it’s a liqueur or a whisky.

Also, at La Grande Dégustation, and at many other shows, different wines require a different number of coupons. Be vigilant, as it can quickly increase your planned spending.

To avoid leaving a wine show dishevelled, I suggest you spit. If you’re a beginner, you’re going to ask me what that means. It simply means that you take a sip, neither too big nor too small, and you taste the wine, analyze it in your mouth, discover the flavours and spit it into the spittoon provided for that purpose. It’s often a black bin on the table that looks like a wine bucket. The wines you find exceptional, you can of course swallow completely, but not all of them, or you won’t make it out of the show alive.

Start with the bubbles. Don’t make the rookie mistake I once made with still wines: starting with the whites and coming back later for the reds. You won’t have time to go back (remember that at La Grande Dégustation, for example, there are more than 1,700 products, which works out to over 200 products to taste per hour over an eight-hour day), so tasting everything is impossible. Also, go from the lightest wines to the fullest-bodied, from the driest to the sweetest, and from the youngest to the oldest.

Try not to monopolize the producers and agents by asking them questions for 30 minutes. You’re not alone, and it’s impolite to those who want access to the wines and also want to speak with these producers.

Between tastings, have a piece of bread and/or some water. Plain pieces of bread are often set out in baskets on the tables.

So make your selection at each table in one go, and you can then move on to the next one and stop thinking about it. Note the wine (name, vintage, price, producer and SAQ code) on your phone, or take a photo of the products you love. You can also scan them in the SAQ app. Think about bringing a notebook if you’re worried your phone battery will give out.

Don’t forget to rinse your glass with water regularly; there are stations available for that.

Time

Depending on your schedule (at La Grande Dégustation, it’s from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, but for industry professionals, it’s even shorter) and the kiosks you’ve decided to visit, it’s important to plan your timetable wisely and allow enough time, especially if it’s crowded. Keep an eye on how much time you have left if you want to do the spirits. If you have a tasting workshop, set an alert so you don’t miss it and give yourself time to get there, because you don’t want to be running. Try not to get distracted if you’re on a tight schedule. If you have extra time, you can always come back.

Purchases

With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to buy for that period and beyond. Still, don’t get carried away: be reasonable and stick to your budget. And what’s really nice about La Grande Dégustation de Montréal is that you can buy single bottles. Let’s face it, buying a case of 12 bottles can get expensive and fairly complicated, especially if you live alone or don’t drink much.

And I’ll say it again: if you feel you’re not fit to drive, take a taxi or public transit.

And just like that, you’re ready to taste wonderful products from here and elsewhere. Enjoy your tastings.