| There is a lot of finesse and etiquette involved | | | | the dank smell of a moldy cellar is a sure sign of |
| when it comes to tasting wine, but this is no | | | | a "corked wine". This is the most common fault |
| reason to be intimidated and run away! Tasting | | | | found in wine caused by a contaminant called |
| wine is where all the fun begins. | | | | TCA which is found mostly in corks but can also |
| Smelling, sipping, tasting, and drinking! The | | | | reside in wood barrels, walls, and beams. |
| etiquette in wine tasting exists because taste is | | | | Unfortunately this ugly little impurity can cause a |
| entirely affected by smell. Wine has so much to | | | | lot of damage. So use your senses to detect |
| offer our taste buds, so in order to get the whole | | | | corked wine, and take your damaged bottle back |
| experience a short ritual must first occur. | | | | to where you bought it for a refund! |
| 1. Color - Take a look. View the wine, examine its | | | | 4. Taste - This is not a cue for drinking! This |
| color. Each varietal will show similar variances of | | | | simply means to take a sip and hold it on the |
| color so this will be your first clue in determining | | | | palate for at least a few moments. We have |
| the right grape. For a sommelier or avid wine | | | | thousands of taste buds all over the mouth so it |
| junkie, this step can paint a larger picture about | | | | makes sense to allow the wine to find almost all |
| the varietal, region, and age of the wine in | | | | of them! Move the wine all around the mouth so |
| question while even prepare the participant for | | | | that it reaches your cheeks and throat. Notice |
| what to expect. As an amateur however take a | | | | how your taste buds react to the substance. |
| mental picture, admire the beauty the wine | | | | While tasting the wine, consider the following to |
| beholds and prepare to taste! | | | | help determine characteristics. |
| 2. Swirl - I am quite sure you have seen diners | | | | Sour/Tart: This is determined at the edges of the |
| swirling their glasses of wine at least somewhere | | | | tongue and back of throat usually signaling acidity. |
| once. This step is integral to the art of smelling as | | | | Sweet: You will experience this taste immediately |
| swirling acts as a catalyst in releasing the wine's | | | | if there is any residual sugar in the wine as |
| bouquet. A bouquet refers to the overall smell of | | | | sweetness is determined on the tip of the tongue. |
| the wine, and is also known as "the nose". After a | | | | Bitter: This taste is determined at the back of the |
| bottle is opened and poured it requires oxygen in | | | | tongue. |
| order to develop into the treasure it was meant | | | | Weight: Felt in the middle of the tongue and |
| to be. Swirling encourages aeration, allowing more | | | | around the gums. Light or full? |
| oxygen to get into the wine and release the | | | | Tannin: Very astringent sensation felt throughout |
| bouquet. So get swirling! | | | | the mouth especially the gums and teeth. It often |
| 3. Smell - This step is critical in tasting wine as our | | | | coats the taste buds making fruit difficult to |
| sense of taste is good, however our sense of | | | | detect. |
| smell is much better, in fact on average a person | | | | The Finish |
| can smell over 2000 various scents! What we | | | | Whether you decide to swallow or spit out your |
| smell also affects what we taste so it is | | | | taster, be sure to take a little time to review |
| important to take the time to smell the wine | | | | your entire experience with this wine. Really |
| before you taste. You will begin to notice many | | | | process the journey in order to secure its' story |
| different scents that may be hard to differentiate | | | | into your mental records. Ask yourself a few |
| at first. Try opening a few different bottles of | | | | questions and take some tasting notes if you like: |
| white varietals or red varietals and smell each. | | | | What did this wine show you? Did you enjoy it? |
| Notice the differences between them. Does it | | | | What did you like/dislike about it? Was it well |
| smell like a particular fruit or spice? Does is smell | | | | balanced? A well balanced wine is not too much of |
| burnt or like tar? Maybe it smells woody or nutty? | | | | any one taste, flavor, or sensation; it's just right! |
| By practicing you will be better able to determine | | | | It is also wise to pay attention to how long its' |
| different characteristics in the wine and of course | | | | presence lasts in your mouth. This is known as |
| be able to determine the varietal right away. | | | | the length of the wine. A great wine can last for |
| The last and equally important part about smelling | | | | several minutes! |
| wine is to identify whether the wine is "off" or in | | | | Like any sport or hobby, practice makes perfect; |
| other words bad. Wine, like most everything, is | | | | the more you taste the more knowledge you'll |
| not perfect all of the time. A nose that reflects | | | | gain on this quenching subject. |