A wine tasting tour should be relaxing, delicious, and filled with discovery. But even the best intentions can be sidetracked by a few common missteps.
Whether you’re joining your first wine tour in Perth or you’ve already explored a few Swan Valley wineries, this guide will help you avoid rookie errors and enjoy a smooth, memorable experience.
Here are the top 5 mistakes people make on wine tours — and how you can avoid them like a seasoned traveller (or sommelier).
1. Skipping Breakfast or Arriving Hungry
The mistake: “I’ll just eat later at the winery.”
Why it’s a problem: Tasting multiple wines on an empty stomach can lead to early fatigue, dehydration, or worse — not remembering which wine you liked best!
How to avoid it: Eat a balanced breakfast before your tour, with protein and carbs. At Sideways Tours, we recommend guests arrive well-fuelled and ready to pace themselves. Wine tasting is a marathon, not a sprint.
2. Wearing Strong Perfume or Aftershave
The mistake: Showing up in your finest scent.
Why it’s a problem: Wine tasting is as much about the aroma as it is about the flavour. Strong personal scents can interfere with the experience — for you and everyone around you.
How to avoid it: Keep it neutral. Let the wine’s natural bouquet shine. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the sensory wine experience.
3. Rushing Through Tastings
The mistake: Taking a sip and moving on too quickly.
Why it’s a problem: A wine’s character reveals itself in stages — sight, smell, taste, texture, and finish. Skimming past the details means missing the story behind the bottle.
How to avoid it: Slow down. Swirl, sniff, sip, savour. Ask the host questions. At Sideways Tours, we choose winery tours where the staff love to share — no rush, no pressure, just flavour and discovery.
4. Not Drinking Water or Pacing Yourself
The mistake: Tasting everything… without staying hydrated or taking breaks.
Why it’s a problem: You’ll tire your palate quickly, and your experience may blur after the first few stops, especially on warm Perth days.
How to avoid it: Bring water and drink it regularly between tastings. Don’t hesitate to spit or skip a pour — it’s perfectly acceptable on wine tasting tours, especially if you’re focusing on quality, not quantity.
5. Not Buying the Wine You Loved (and Regretting It Later)
The mistake: Tasting something wonderful… and thinking, “I’ll remember it later.”
Why it’s a problem: Many Swan Valley wineries produce in small batches and sell directly at the cellar door. Some wines are not available in stores or online.
How to avoid it: If you love it, buy a bottle or two — or take a quick photo of the label with your notes. We’ve seen too many guests try to find “that amazing red from the second stop” long after the tour ends… and fail.
Final Thoughts: Be Present, Be Curious, Be Respectful
The best wine tours are the ones where guests are open-minded, relaxed, and respectful of the craft behind each glass. You don’t need to be an expert — just engaged.
At Sideways Tours, we create the perfect environment for you to learn, enjoy, and fall in love with Perth’s wine scene, especially in Swan Valley. Avoiding these common mistakes helps ensure that your experience is unforgettable, for all the right reasons.
Ready to Taste Like a Pro?
Join us for a Swan Valley Wine Tour where you can sip, learn, laugh, and experience Western Australia’s wine country at its best — without the stress and without the mistakes.