Wine tasting can get very strange very fast for the uninitiated!
So, if you are invited to a dinner party and wine tasting is on the agenda, then its time you brush up on your wine-speak and practice your swirl because you are going to see people take sips and say stuff likeÉ
ÒA strident vintage wine with a touch of bramble and honey. A perturbed finish. Would be great with a whole wheel of sharp provolone piccante cheese, a newfound sense of religion, or an ice bucket challenge.Ó
Okay, so thatÕs a bit of an exaggeration, but donÕt be surprised if the actual report isnÕt all that different. Fear not though, wine tasting is not as hard as you think. By the end of this post, you will have learned most of the things that are required wine taste like a pro. Simply follow these 5 steps.
1. Look.
Wine tasting, or rather, the art of wine tasting, begins before you have even taken in your first sip. The look of the wine sets the mood for the taste, so pay close attention to it. Look specifically at the shade of the color, the viscosity, and the opacity of the wine you are holding and compare it to that of other wines youÕve experienced. Examine the red wines graphic from Wine Folly below, for example.
Notice how although they all similar in color, there are very apparent differences. The same is true for white wines.
2. Smell.
Most wines are served in glasses that are large enough for you to poke your nose into them. If you want your wine report to be generally accepted, then focus on this trait. Identifying the smell will allow you to detect more of the hidden tastes later on, too.
Pick up the glass by holding it at the rim; donÕt touch the main body as that could leave fingerprints and smudges on it. Next, give it a slight swirl. This will aerate the wine and help release its aroma. Stick your nose into the glass and smell.
3. Taste.
Now that the mood has been set, itÕs time to sip it up. Take a mouthful of wine, and try to ascertain its flavor and texture. Does it dry up your mouth? Is it sharp? Does it remind you of some fruit, a mineral, or even spice? Try to remember the conclusions you came to after smelling the wine. Know that it really isnÕt important to be 100% accurate here, as itÕs unlikely that everyone will come to the same conclusion about the wine.
Taste varies from person to person, so your opinion is as justified as the next taster because its yourÕs and no one has exactly the same palate as you do.
4. Gulp it down or spit it out.
Of course no one likes to waste away perfectly good wine, but sometimes itÕs necessary. It is not considered rude to spit out wine at a winery. Some professional tasters even prefer not to swallow the wine as they say spitting allows them to fully evaluate the taste. If you are confronted with a row of 20 different flavors, you might just want to save yourself from the inebriation, which spitting can help you do. Also, you are not obligated to drink the wine if you donÕt like it. Swallow only those flavors that you find palatable. Some will say that there is a right and wrong way to spit wine, but we will ignore them for now.
5. Evaluate.
Now that you have made it through, itÕs time to report your findings. Again, donÕt be too concerned about being right or wrong; you will be surprised how often even professional wine tasters can contradict themselves when tasting the same wine. Here are some fancy wine nouns and adjectives you can throw around so it sounds like you know more than you do:
- nose (n): the aroma of the wine
- bouquet (n): the fragrance a mature wine gives off after opening
- finish (n): the taste the wine leaves at the end
- rounded (adj): describes a well balanced and complete wine
- dry (adj): lacking in sweetness
- More Here
Simply narrate your experience in a polite manner using your new wine vernacular, and thatÕs it!
YouÕve made it through your tasting like a pro. Congratulations! Wine can add a lot to a gathering, which is why every year at Tidal Creek Co-op, we put our wines on sale for the holidays! There are 22 amazing wines (some local Wilmington wines) up to 40% off. Wine’s not your flavor? Try some of these amazing local beers. Come by the Co-op and check them out!
Aside from being the only cooperatively owned grocery in town, Tidal Creek was one of the first health food stores in Wilmington. We are committed to the community and will be taking canned food donations in store this holiday season. Interested in helping? Consider becoming an Owner at the Co-op.
