Santa Ynez Valley Guest Currrent Issue Articles

Current Issue Articles

A Field Guide to Responsible
Wine Tasting
By Kate Bardessono

In the wine industry, consumers as well as wine servers have questioned the legal implications of driving while wine tasting. When is enough, enough? How can we enjoy the fruits of our fine valley, and still follow the law and be safe? Is there actually a safe way to go wine tasting? I put these questions to Lieutenant Ken Reinstadler, Commander of the Santa Ynez Valley Sheriff’s Station.	Lieutenant Ken Reinstadler, Commander of the Santa Ynez Valley Sheriff's Station, offers a number of helpful suggestions for keeping your wine tasting safe and responsible.
I also asked if, in his opinion, has there been a serious increase in the number of arrests for Driving Under the Influence, or DUIs, caused by wine tasting? (Thank you Lieutenant Reinstadler for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly.) An interview with Lieutenant Reinstadler “I have worked for the sheriff’s department for 28 years.” said Reinstadler. “I have been the Commander here at the Solvang station for almost 2 years, and I have had prior experience here, working as a deputy sheriff, as a detective and as a Sergeant. So I know the Santa Ynez Valley very well. In my capacity here, I serve as the police chief of the city of Solvang, and the commander of the sheriff’s station for everything in the Santa Ynez Valley. I have also had four years experience working with the Ontario Police department. This is a fun job and a great career. “I have been wine tasting here, and have enjoyed our wine country. Strictly wine tasting does not, normally, lead to arrests. Wine tasters are usually drinking more responsibly. They usually do not go wine tasting to get drunk, they go to taste the wine. There have been instances of wine tasters being arrested for DUI, but we are not able to separate statistics between those that have been drinking at other businesses, such as a bar or restaurant vs. those that have been wine tasting. In my experience reading the reports, and speaking with officers, it is not the leading cause of DUI arrests. “I am concerned that if people do not wine taste responsibly, it will result in an arrest for DUI, especially if they plan to drive. It isn’t so much going to a vineyard and doing the wine tasting that is the problem. It is the wine tours, where you go to several different vineyards and taste at every one, and then drive. “The standard glass of wine is about six ounces. That’s a pretty big glass of wine. If the average person were to consume four to six ounces of wine within an hour’s period, depending on build and individual body type, their blood alcohol level (BAC) will be about .02 or more. If a person continues to consume at the same rate for a second hour, their blood alcohol is pushing, if not over, .05 percent. That person should not be driving. So the basic rule of thumb is, if you drink a glass of wine an hour, you are probably going to be okay. But it isn’t typical for a person to drink literally a glass of wine an hour. It generally gets to be about 2 or more glasses an hour. So, more than likely you will probably be pushing more than .05 in a normal hour. Then, in a second hour, if you continue to drink at that rate, you will go over the legal limit. “That’s the problem. People do not realize the accumulative effects of consuming alcohol during wine tasting tours. You burn the alcohol at a rate of .02 an hour. So, generally within a three hour period, if you are drinking two glasses of wine an hour, you are over your legal limit. If you are only doing one full wine tasting, which is about five to six ounces, you are going to have a total blood alcohol content of about .02. That would be fine. But an example of a typical day touring the wineries, just by having one tasting an hour, and then going to lunch and having a glass of wine, you have accumulated over the legal limit. Be very careful. Keep your blood alcohol level under .04 at all times.”
Chris Benzinger of Los Olivos Tasting Room advocates safe wine tasting.	Five Tips for Wine Tasting Safely My interview with Lieutenant Reinstadler, coupled with other research, is the basis for the following common sense recomendations for safe and sane wine tasting.
1. Expectorate. If you are spitting, you are able to enjoy the two or three wine tastings without reaching your legal limit. Do not swallow the wine, or drink a full glass during that day at any time. Be sure to drink plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages. 2. Keep track of how much you consume. Remember: four to five ounces are equal to one drink. If you are watching your hours and ounces, and if you are only tasting, and you stretch it out over a six hour period, with more than one hour in-between, and if you have lunch without alcohol, you should be under the legal limit with an .03 to .04. However, you will be impaired. Civilly, you may be liable for any incidents or accidents that may occur on your way home. One drink will reach its peak impact within 60- 90 minutes. NOTE: If you have a BAC of .04, and you are taking certain medications before driving, you can be arrested. Driving while consuming alcohol; in combination with drugs that cause impairment, is illegal. Synergism is the doubling effect that certain medications have when combined with alcohol. The actual section is 23152 regarding alcohol and/or the combination of alcohol and drugs. This combination is lethal, please be sure to check with your doctor if you are taking any prescribed medications before you plan a trip wine tasting. 3. Have a designated driver. Designated drivers can wine taste if they are able to spit, and if they do not taste the wines at more than one winery within a two hour period. 4. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Remember that the food makes you feel less impaired, but it really doesn’t do anything to burn the amount of alcohol in your blood. It simply helps process the alcohol. Alternate your wine tasting with the consuming of non-alcoholic beverages, to prevent over indulging and dehydration. 5. Indulge in a tour. Wine tours are great! On a bus, in a jeep, van or limo! But do not go on a tour and then drive home when you reach the end of your tour. If you are driving home, stop drinking midway through the tour. So as you can see, there are several ways to have a wonderful and safe day wine tasting. Now you have no excuse not to come out and visit us at the vineyards. Go out and enjoy yourselves viewing the lovely Santa Ynez Valley! Cheers!