8 Do's & Don'ts From Netflix's 'Wine Country'

I LOVE wine. I also love Amy Poehler (my husband an I just binged the entirety of Parks and Rec.) So when I heard these two things would come together in Netflix’s new film ‘Wine Country.’ I knew I had to see it.

While the film was more about the relationships and connections between women, it also commented on life and tourism in Napa Valley. While the film got some things right—and others wrong—here are a few lessons you should take away from the film:

DO make reservations. At several points throughout the film, Poehler’s character Abby, gets frustrated with her friends because they aren’t adhering to her schedule. Napa Valley is basically the Disney World of wine country. While you’ll still be able to walk-in to many of the larger establishments—especially in the off-season—appointments are required if you want to taste at many cellar doors, especially if you’d like a tour. Let’s be clear though:

DON’T schedule your tastings too close together. Assume each tasting will take about 90 minutes. You’ll want to buffer in time for the heinous traffic that develops around 11AM on Rt. 29, parking, and taking pictures of your Insta-worthy surroundings. Which leads us to number 3:

DO enjoy the scenery. Napa Valley is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Many tasting rooms display world-class art and architecture. At one point, a winery employee at Baldacci Winery chastises two of the women for walking in the vineyards. This has NEVER happened to me in Napa. Just remember that those grapes are these people’s livelihoods and show them a little respect.

DON’T be rude to your tasting room associate. At Artesa, the bartended asks Abby and Rebecca to “take a big whiff; there’s no wrong answers.” He then shuts down Rebecca when she replies “canned peaches.” Yes, some people get a little carried away with their descriptors (what does a wet germ shepherd taste like anyway?), but a well-informed pourer can tell you a lot about a particular bottle. Learning about the terroir and the winemaking process can help you to make decisions about what types of wine you’ll like in the future. Do you like Chardonnay with or without ML? Do you like your Syrah grown in cool or warm climates? Knowing these little details can help you pick a bottle of wine on a BevMo shelf or off a restaurant menu.

DO splurge on a good meal. On their first night in town, the women go out to a restaurant in what looks like Calistoga and the camera focuses in on several dishes that look both downright ridiculous and delicious like the “lavender popping corn” with fleur de sel on the side. You may think this scene is a bit hyperbolic. I’m here to tell you, this sort of presentation is par for course in the valley… and it’s awesome.

DON’T make substitutions. After the sever, Jade, introduces herself, Abby launches into a tirade about everyone’s food allergies. This is a horrendous faux pas. As someone with celiac disease, I’m often the one at the table asking for special treatment, and I know that there is a right way to do this. First, you should take a look at the online menu to see if there are things that will fit your dietary restrictions with little or no substitutions. Then you should call ahead. Ask if the chef could make this work. If he can’t, find another place for dinner. If he can, ask the hostess to make a note with your reservation.

DO take Tammy’s advice and "ping pong back and forth between water and wine. It helps with the hangover.” I never go wine tasting without a refillable water bottle. Even though they look like tiny pours, they add up and you’ll need to be hydrated if you don’t want to end up barfing in the manicured bushes by the end of the day.

DON’T drive drunk. I was absolutely HORRIFIED when the women got back to their Airb’n’b the first night (and not just because of the McDonalds bags). The roads in Napa are poorly lit, windy, and—at times—unpaved. The women figured it out by their first day, employing a driver to take them around from place to place. If you don’t want to hire a service, please have a designated driver. That’s what those bucks on the bars are for after all.