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