I tell people all the time, go meet your winemaker.

But that’s useless advice if you don’t know what questions to ask.

Here’s where I would start.

Your goal is to get them talking. To do that, you need to come off curious and compassionate, not accusatory. You’re not trying to catch them in a lie. You’re trying to learn how they think.

Start with sulfites.

You could say something like,

“I know all wine has sulfites, but I keep hearing they’re overused in a lot of wines out there.”

That’ll open the door. If they immediately agree, you’re probably talking to someone who’s thinking carefully about what goes in their wine. If they bristle or start defending heavy use, there’s a good chance it’s a more conventional approach. And if they’re using a lot of sulfites, they’re probably using a lot of other stuff too.

Then ask about the vineyard.

Not, “Do you spray?” That comes off combative. Instead, ask,

“What’s the biggest weed, pest, or fungus issue you deal with?”

Then follow with,

“That sounds like a nightmare. What can be done to stop it?”

Their answer is going to tell you everything. You may need to look up a spray name later, but the tone of the conversation will already have given you what you need. Listen for whether they talk about the land like it’s something they’re connected to, or something they’re trying to control.

Personally, I’m a big vibes guy.

If it feels off, if they’re defensive, cagey, or dodging the question, that’s your answer.

Trust your gut. It’s good at tasting wine too.