| What Do Wine Tasters Look For When Assessing | | | | is also known as the bouquet or nose. To do |
| Wines? Wine tasting is an overall sensory | | | | this, the wine taster will swirl the glass |
| evaluation of the wine being tasted. Tasters | | | | which releases molecules that enable them to |
| evaluate the aroma, the look, the taste, and | | | | smell the aroma. Some wine tasters take two |
| feel inside the mouth. Experienced wine | | | | whiffs; one quick one to formulate an initial |
| tasters can detect the maturity, quality, as | | | | impression and a second deeper whiff of the |
| well as faults that it might have as well as | | | | wine. Other tasters take only one deep whiff. |
| aromas and colors. This evaluation is often | | | | The aroma is then contemplated for awhile |
| done in three steps; look, smell and taste. | | | | before the wine is actually tasted. An |
| What Are They Looking For When They Look At | | | | experienced wine taster can pick out several |
| The Wine? The taster, in visually examining | | | | different smells in that glass of wine even |
| the wine, looks for clarity as well as | | | | if there is one very strong aroma with other |
| integration, expressiveness, complexity, | | | | underlying ones. Tasters also remember aromas |
| connectedness and varietal character. It is | | | | by naming them as well. How Is Taste |
| preferable to against a white background, to | | | | Evaluated? Tasters take a small amount of |
| better judge the color of the wine. The | | | | wine and move it over their entire tongues so |
| wine's color is a good indicator if the wine | | | | that all taste buds come in contact with it. |
| is aged in wood or metal barrels. The color | | | | Some also take a sip of wine, and while |
| also gives the taster clues as to which | | | | holding it on the tounge, inhale through the |
| variety of grape is used in the wine. Most | | | | mouth. The aim is to allow the aroma of the |
| wines are red or white, however there are | | | | wine to enter the nasal passageway at the |
| also variations within those colors as well. | | | | back of your throat which will increase the |
| In white wines, the colors range from a green | | | | experience of the wine. Both the body and the |
| color to a yellow then to a brown color. The | | | | texture of the wine are examined and can be |
| colors of red wines can range from a pale red | | | | judged as smooth or harsh, or light or rich. |
| to a deep brown red. While most white wines | | | | Tasters also judge the aftertaste by how long |
| don't necessarily improve with age, many red | | | | the taste last and how pleasant the taste is. |
| wines do. When a taster tilts a glass of red | | | | Do People Get Drunk At A Wine Tasting? If |
| wine, they are looking for the "rim" color at | | | | Not, How Do They Stay Sober? Wine tasting |
| the edge of the wine. A purple tint to the | | | | events provide guests with food and water, |
| edge, indicates a young wine. An orange to | | | | which slow the release of alcohol into the |
| brown color signifies a more mature wine. A | | | | bloodstream. They also provide spittoons just |
| wine taster will also swirl the wine, in | | | | in case water is not provided, as well as |
| order to observe the body of the wine. When | | | | serving very small amounts of wine for each |
| they refer to a wine having "good legs", that | | | | tasting. So the risk of getting drunk is |
| can mean a higher sweetness level, alcohol | | | | lowered considerably. |
| content or thicker body. What Is The Wine's | | | | |
| Bouquet? After visually evaluating the wine, | | | | Visit Wine Country Guide to learn more about |
| tasters then evaluate the wine's aroma, which | | | | wine and wine growing regions. |