Can I bring my own glasses?
Yes. For the tastings other than the festival event, we do provide rather nice glasses, but they are not crystal. If you feel you will enhance your enjoyment of the wines by bringing particular glassware, please do so. You will need a minimum of 5 glasses per person. For the Festival event, we also provide a Burgundy Crystal stem. However, you may bring your own. Please remember to get a free glass to add to your collection as this is an exceptional crystal wine glass that will add to any collection.

Do you serve food?
For the Non-Festival tasting, there will be cheese and bread mostly for the purpose of palate cleansing. We serve bread from Semifreddi's, and cheese from teh Marin French Cheese Company. At the Grand Tasting, there will be a number of specialty food suppliers offering their products as well as the traditional cheese and bread.

Can I purchase tickets the day of the event?
For the Non-Festival tastings, you may not pay at the door. These tastings are reserved seating and we gauge the amount of wine we need by the number of people attending. Therefore, we cannot add additional seats on short notice. For the Sunday Grand Tasting, you may purchase tickets on the day of the event at the Fort Mason ticket office located in the Herbst pavilion. The Fort Mason ticket office telephone number is (415) 345-7575 and their website is: http://www.fortmason.org/boxoffice/index.shtml

How much wine is poured for each taste?
At the non-festival tastings, we pour approximately 1.25 ounces per taste. The amount is enough for two good tastes of each wine. More often than not, we have wine left over at the tastings and we welcome patrons to help themselves. At the Grand Tasting, the producers are allowed to pour at their discretion.

Are all wines tasted blind?
We almost always conduct blind tastings. It keeps everyone honest and adds a certain suspense to the tastings.

How do you select the wines?
After we set a theme, we consider many variables in selecting our wines. We have tried many of the wines and we select from the best within the particular theme. We also consider availability, as we try to buy our wines locally so that our attendees will have access to the wines. We also consider price, and will provide wines at all price levels so that the group can compare cost vs. quality, and can access good wines that are affordable.

What is the format of the tastings?
For the non-festival tastings, we usually taste the wines in 3 flights of four wines (if we are drinking twelve wines). If not, then we make sure the same number of wines are tasted for each flight. We usually taste each flight of wines for approximately 20 minutes, then discuss them as a group for 15 minutes. For the Festival event, the producers are set up at tables and you are allowed to leisurely approach them and taste their wines, engage in conversation and mix with the other attendees.

What level of wine knowledge should attendees have?
This is a very common question. We believe, and work very hard to ensure, that our tastings are enjoyed by all, regardless of your knowledge of wine. For the beginner, the tastings are an opportunity to learn more about the theme, while the advanced taster can make buying decisions. Regardless, everyone is welcome and all will have a chance to offer their perspective. Our tastings are about education and fun and we do not allow them to be about ego.

What is appropriate attire?
There is no dress requirement (though we do require clothing of one form or another). Most of our participants come after work so you will see everything from suits to shorts. Our events are casual, and the last issue you need to worry about is how you are dressed!

Is transportation available?
There are many taxis and bus lines on the avenue that passes Fort Mason and we encourage participants to utilize these services.