Should you spit or swallow at a French wine-tasting?

"You may have heard that real wine experts spit out each wine after tasting it, but if you're at a French wine tasting event you probably won't see a lot of spitting. For those of us who are not professional sommeliers, wine tastings ( dégustation) will generally be low-key events held either at a bar or wine cave, or hosted at the end of a vineyard tour."

"The bucket is for dregs and leftovers - at most tastings you will be poured between six or eight different wines, and it's likely you will get a full glass of each. The reason that a full glass is poured is to allow the scents of the wine to breathe and fill the glass, so you can fully experience the aroma, and then the taste."

French wine tastings are generally low-key events held at bars, wine caves, or at the end of vineyard tours. Hosts or wine experts pour a variety of wines and explain their properties, aromas, and flavors. Full glasses are often served so aromas can breathe and fill the glass for proper evaluation. An ice bucket or container is provided for dregs and leftovers, not primarily for spitting. Most guests take a few sips of each wine and then pour the remainder into the bucket to avoid becoming intoxicated. Typical sampling totals equal about one to two glasses of wine.

Read at The Local France