I went to a wine, olive and cheese festival recently.
You pay to get in, buy a wine glass and then all the tasting by all the stalls is for free.
Even though I only got a few drops per stall I still managed to get bombed 
The home made beer was well worth it, very yeasty but went down so smooth.
Wine tasting is bunk after sample 10 you have last all judgment any way 
Oh and no matter how pissed I was the organic wines tasted like crap!
Most people who go wine tasting do it incorrectly. Technically, you’re not supposed to swallow the wine; you are supposed to swish it around in your mouth to get the
taste of it, and spit it out. Then rinse with water. Wineries provide a bin at the counter for you to expectorate in. Of course, few people do it this way... often getting bombed is part fo the fun.
If you are hard-core and really want to enjoy your visit to wine country go during the week. On the weekends all the wineries are mobbed with tourists, but that can be part of the fun too... meeting new people, running into each other and different wineries, going out to dinner with new friends, etc.
I assume everyone reading this thread has seen Sideways.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0375063/
