For those with distinguished palates to those who’ve never tasted a drop of wine, the Page Springs Vineyards and Cellars Tasting Room offers a distinct and welcoming environment. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven-days-a-week including holidays, the PSC Tasting Room is staffed by Manager Carol Lawlor and five part-time employees. According to Lawlor, the overall objective and purpose of the Tasting Room is to sell wine and club memberships “by educating patrons about who we are, what we're about and the wines we have. We do this by making folks feel comfortable so that they enjoy their experience and will want to come back again,” said Lawlor. To further enhance the experience, all staff members receive on-the-job training. “All have a love and an appreciation for wine prior to joining the team,” Lawlor said. Most visitors enjoy a flight of wine, which consists of five tastes. Patrons are able to choose between an all red, an all white or a combination red and white flight. PSC wine club members receive Tasting Room benefits in the form of free tastings and wines only available to those in the club. “In addition to tastings, wine is available by the glass, bottle and case,” Lawlor said. “People are free to buy a bottle of wine and take it down to our deck on Oak Creek where it can be opened and enjoyed. We’ll even loan them a wine opener and glasses.” And for those who find themselves looking for something to supplement a tasting or bottle of wine, fruit and cheese plates are available for $10 and include three kinds of cheese, nuts, dried fruit, an apple and an individual loaf of sourdough bread. In addition to tasting or buying wine, there are many items available for sale in the Tasting Room. Most of the items are wine-related or are by artists that are friends of the winery. “We’re always changing what is available, trying to provide a good selection of things that have broad appeal,” Lawlor said. When it comes down to it, Lawlor said that what makes PSC stand apart from other tasting rooms is the effort extended to make people feel welcome and comfortable. “Having such excellent wine to offer to folks really helps,” she said. “It's especially fun when someone comes in and declares that they only drink a particular kind of wine, and by the time they leave they've discovered that there are other tastes, flavors, and types of wines that appeal to them.” In addition to helping people embrace variety in their taste for wine the Tasting Room staff will take the time to walk novices through the whole tasting room experience. “Folks come in and feel comfortable enough to admit to having never visited a tasting room before and ask what they're supposed to do,” Lawlor said. “Everyone on the staff is good at introducing newbies to the process, and afterward they leave feeling much more confident about trying new things and have had a positive experience. That's the way we like it.” For more information about the Page Springs Vineyards and Cellars Tasting Room, call 639-3004 x 105 or e-mail CLawlor@pagespringscellars.com.

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