No wine snobbery here. Please review the 10 S's of Wine Tasting go to WineForCures.org under NEWSLETTER .
Don't get left behind, so, let's have fun!
Choose the right wine for the occasion, food and entertainment. Importantly wine tasting is very different from wine drinking.
The major difference is the technical values involved in wine tasting. In tasting your are looking for many subtle items, the fine grains of sand, so to speak. This makes wine drinking a greater pleasure to be sure!
Picking up where we left off last time, the wine is in the glass, remember last time's discussion. Please review it!
Swirl - you'll need to swirl the wine in the glass. This is typically done by pressing down firmly and securely on the flared or flat base of a stemmed glass and moving it in a gentle but intentional circular motion about the length of your index and second finger, perhaps 5 rotations. Free handing swirl is another, perhaps more elegant method and clearly sexier! Pick up the glass by the stem with an ever so slight tilt spin it a bit (try this over the sink first). In either case, bring the wine well up the inside of the glass, but not over the glass lip. Either action takes a little practice. This agitation releases alcohol in the wine that carries the aromas upwards on the inside of glass.
Sniff - now lift the glass to your nose and sniff the vapors; capture its aroma, the nose, its bouquet. What does it smell like, describe it. Fruit, floral, veggie, mineral like, dirt, chocolate, leather or any other scent the world produces. Experts say that 65- 80% of taste results from smell, the sniff. Keep that scent thought going, do not let it go.
Sip - sip the wine, enough to completely cover the tongue where the taste buds live. Move the wine about the tongue, gently pressing it. Some call this "chewing the wine". Now, you should have a good idea of what this wine is
all about. What does it taste like. Again fruit, floral, veggie, a desert, what? Describe it, remember it! Sniff and sip are the big two elements toward complete wine drinking pleasure.
Swallow - swallow does not mean gulping it down, it's no Coke. Let the wine gently slide down the throat. Feel for the finish and continuing flavors. Some wine will gain additional flavors and aromas here, too. There is more to this than one would expect. This is where the "finish" begins and the final flavors/notes develop. As it goes down the bouquet of the wine may re-intensify in the back of the throat, the taste buds are still working and the combinations may continue to be present for a time. This may give you the complexity of the wine and how you think about it. It's called the finish and it's very important in judging a wine's quality. And absolutely important in enjoying a social glass. Would you recommend it the friends?
Savor - pull back the thoughts of your sniff, sip and swallow. Recall the aromas, the elements of flavors and reflect on the finish. Balance what you have experienced and make an informed option. What was this wine about? Would I have it again? What would I have it with? Would it be for food pairings or just drinking? Wine is the perfect match for food, just saying. Make a list!
Finally, look at its color; study this briefly. Color may tell volumes about this wine, however, modern wine making techniques play a huge role in color development/formation, winemakers can change wine's color. Traditionally, color was one of the main three techniques in wine judging. Now, it's just not that important.
Hope you enjoyed this wine tasting. If you asked a wine expert about our tasting tips, perhaps a Sommelier, they may say this list coulda, woulda or shoulda included other thoughts.
Gil says, "wine is the conversation held in a bottle, uncorked, the truth pours forth". This means, as wine ages in its bottle chemistry takes place that may change and alter the wine's original flavor and character, hopefully to the good. This may enhance the complexity and long finish of the wine giving it a memorable place on your favored wine list. Aging can make an OK wine into an amazing wine in time. Wine is a preference among many beverage alternatives, wine is the emperor of all libations.
Taste often, takes notes, select well and enjoy the wine you drink.
Contact us for private wine tastings, corporate wine functions and fundraising events.
info@wineforcures.org
