[authoritarian]

>I believe that wine tastings are primarily for the social value

You have apparently never tasted wine with a sommelier or wine enthusiast, because I can assure you it is 100% about the wine. Socializing is minimal

>with the socializing eased by the alcohol

...the alcohol in the spit bucket?

[aaronax]

I have never been to a wine tasting where people are spitting out the wine. But I have read of them so acknowledge that they exist and that you have a fair point.