Our journey began at Daniel Gehrs Winery where my friends accompanied Jen and I. This was their first experience EVER wine tasting and being the stereotypical college students, they didn't know much about the industry or wine in general; only beer and hard alcohol. We were about to change their entire perception and have a great time doing it!
It was towards the end of a typical tasting day when we arrived at Daniel Gehrs. As we entered, we were greeted by other visitors who took one look at us young'ins and half joked that the "party bus had arrived from the local college." It's amazing the biases' people hold regarding age. It always makes me laugh.
An employee behind the counter, Steve, was serving us that afternoon and was incredibly helpful and patient with our new wine-loving friends. He explained the high level facts about wine and the wine making process to them in a manner that they understood. He spoke to them without bias or the classic "wine-snob" lingo. He was personable, knowledgeable, and made them feel like friends. It's my impression that because he was so personable that my friends had such a great time and allowed themselves to open their horizons to the vast world of wine. So much so that they ended up buying lots of bottles that day!
The tasting room was quaint - a small tasting bar, some shelves holding trinkets, small tables showcasing awards and wines bottles. Their pet cat, Shiraz was on top of the cases all stretched trying to cool off from the hot day. This was a close-knit group of people enjoying what they do and it shows.
Even though my friend spoke of making a wine spritzer from their Rose, they didn't stone, whip, or even black list them from returning. They understood that everyone starts with the same level of wine knowledge as everyone else. Only experience and appreciation will guide them toward finding their own palette. Of course, we had a good laugh from it later.
We had a great time visiting Daniel Gehrs. We shared stories and experiences, we laughed, and made a great friendships. I'm thankful Daniel Gehrs was so friendly to my new wine travelers. They became converts as soon as we left and now I have new friends to enjoy wine tasting with! Things couldn't have gone better.
Overall, Daniel Gehrs Winery is great. Their wines are all wonderfully made and very affordable for the quality they're producing. Each wine shines alone and collectively their line is remarkable. I hear they make a few other wines that we were unable to taste that day... just another reason to come back... and soon!
