On Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:40:22 -0400, Mark Lipton wrote:

> On 6/11/14 1:15 AM, Emery Davis wrote:
>> You clearly know this but I'll mention it for those who might not:
>> since wine tasting is almost always free in France it's considered
>> polite to leave with a bottle (at least). Even if you're getting on a
>> plane later,
>> you can always use it for a picnic, stew, or give it away.
>
> And this explains why we only schedule (yes, schedule!) visits with
> winemakers whose wines we know we like (or, on occasion, new ones who
> come highly recommended from a reputable source).
>
Hi Mark,

Calling first is always a good idea, but I confess we enjoy cruising
around occasionally without rdv, just stopping here or there as the mood
takes us, or asking a local who's making good wine Most people are happy
enough with "Hi, was passing by and thought it would be a good
opportunity to discover your wines." And in France of course it is
frequently the winemaker or their family (sometimes even young kids) who
receive you, which for us adds to the pleasure of the encounter.

Although in fairness sometimes things can be a bit hit or miss this
way!