| We'll start this article by asking these two | | | | (and anything for that matter!) taste pretty flat |
| questions: "Why is wine so confusing?" and "Does | | | | and one dimensional. However, when acidity is |
| selecting a wine intimidate you?" If your answer | | | | present in the right quantities, it is the element |
| to the second question is yes, then you are not | | | | that makes all of the other flavours in the wine |
| alone! | | | | stand out, including the undertones of fruit, spice |
| Most people have been to a liquor store or a | | | | and herbs. The flavour in wine that you would |
| restaurant and been absolutely overwhelmed and | | | | describe as tangy, sharp, refreshing, bracing, |
| intimidated by the sheer variety and number of | | | | bright, crisp or zingy is the acidity. |
| selections offered. The variety of choices among | | | | 4. Light Bodied vs Full Bodied: To get a picture of |
| wine varieties, brands, labels, and prices seem | | | | the differences between a light-bodied wine and a |
| almost infinite. | | | | full-bodied wine think about milk as an analogy. |
| Herein lies the problem: There are just too many | | | | Light-bodied is analogous to skim milk and |
| choices. | | | | full-bodied wine analogous to full-cream milk, and |
| So what is the solution to too many choices? | | | | the variations in the "body" of wne are like |
| Well, the answer in a few words is: Discover your | | | | varying levels of fat-content in milk. |
| own preference for wine taste. | | | | What makes it even easier, is that a wine's body |
| Many people know when they like a wine. But the | | | | is directly proportional to its alcohol content. On |
| difficult part is understanding why. What do you | | | | every wine label you'll notice a percentage of |
| like about it, and how do you describe what it is | | | | alcohol by volume. Note how it applies to body: |
| that you like about that wine? Is it light or full | | | | * 7.5% - 10.5% indicates light body |
| bodied? Is it tannic or not? What are tannins | | | | * 10.5% - 12.5% indicates medium body |
| anyway? Is it fruity or sweet? Do fruity and | | | | * 12.5% and over indicates full body |
| sweet mean the same thing? And, if you try and | | | | 5. No Oak vs Heavy Oak: Wines might be stored |
| like a Shiraz, does that mean you will like all | | | | in oak barrels, usually to impart extra and more |
| Shiraz? | | | | complex flavours. French, American and German |
| All these questions can be answered by tasting | | | | oak barrels are widely used in Australia. Oaky |
| wines, and then tasting more wine! Yet tasting is | | | | describes the aroma or taste quality imparted to |
| not enough as you must pay attention to what | | | | a wine by the oak barrels in which it was aged. |
| you are tasting. In my opinion, it is a good idea to | | | | The terms toasty, vanilla, dill, cedary and smoky |
| learn with comparative tastings. Take for example | | | | indicate the desirable qualities of oak; charred, |
| the Chardonnay grape. It is grown in Mornington | | | | burnt, green cedar, lumber and plywood describe |
| Peninsula, Victoria and also in Margaret River, | | | | its unpleasant side. |
| Western Australia. Tasted side-by-side, you may | | | | Step 3: Buy wine that is well looked after, like at |
| first think that both Chardonnay's have little in | | | | the cellar door |
| common, yet they are both made from | | | | It is important to purchase wine from liquor |
| Chardonnay grapes. | | | | outlets that take proper care of their wine, e.g. |
| When you taste a wine of the same variety | | | | buying direct from the winery's cellar door is a |
| side-by-side, you can easily begin to learn the | | | | good option. Extreme heat or cold, direct sunlight, |
| differences between a full bodied and a light | | | | and dramatic temperature fluctuations are not |
| bodied wine; and a low tannin wine and a high | | | | good for wine. Also, before you buy, make sure |
| tannin wine, etc. | | | | the wine is filled up to the neck of the bottle, the |
| Tips on how to choose a wine that is right for | | | | cork is not pushing out of the bottle, and there |
| you | | | | are no signs of leakage. |
| Step 1: Decide if you want a white wine or red | | | | Step 4: Enjoy exploring the variety and diversity |
| wine | | | | of Australian wine |
| Decide whether you want a white wine, red wine, | | | | There are lots of good reasons to explore all of |
| sparkling wine, dessert wine or fortified wine. This | | | | the wines that Australia has to offer in all its |
| will narrow down your choices and give you some | | | | diversity. Don't just stick to the well-known |
| direction. | | | | varieties like Chardonnay or Shiraz - experiment |
| Step 2: Decide on your preferences for wine | | | | with other whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and |
| taste | | | | Gewurztraminer or reds like Zinfandel, and Pinot |
| Have a think about your own preferences for the | | | | Noir. Also, try examples of a particular variety |
| taste of a wine. (Tip: Use your knowledge from | | | | from different wine regions to understand how |
| your comparative wine tastings to help you.) | | | | regional conditions affect the wine's character. |
| As a minimum, decide whether you prefer a dry | | | | Expose yourself to every type of wine. The |
| or sweet wine. (Dry is the term used to describe | | | | more you taste the more you will understand and |
| the absence of sweetness in a wine.) | | | | the easier wine selection will become. |
| If you know your preferences for other wine | | | | Step 5: Buy by the case |
| characteristics, then it will also be a good idea to | | | | When you find a wine you really like, consider |
| decide on these. If you don't know your | | | | buying wine by the case (12 bottles). Most |
| preferences then I have included a short | | | | wineries will offer you a 10% or 15% wine |
| description here to help you in your comparative | | | | discount when you purchase a case of wine or |
| wine tastings. | | | | more. |
| 1. Low Tannins vs High Tannins: Tannins are a vital | | | | Step 6: Only rely on your own taste buds |
| ingredient in wines, especially red wines. It comes | | | | The ultimate goal of wine buying is to buy wines |
| from the stalks, skins and pips of grapes. Tannins | | | | that taste good to you. Just because a merchant, |
| in a young wine produce a bitter, puckering taste | | | | friend or wine writer says a wine is good doesn't |
| on the palate. | | | | mean you'll like it. Conversely, don't shy away |
| 2. Short Palate vs Long Palate: The "length" of a | | | | from a wine because someone else says that it is |
| wine is the amount of time the sensations of | | | | no good. The only judge of good taste in wine is |
| taste and aroma persist after swallowing. Usually, | | | | you. |
| the longer the better. | | | | And herein lies one of the biggest benefits of so |
| 3. Low Acid vs High Acid: Acids of various types | | | | much choice: you are sure to find wines that are |
| are present in wine, and are essential to the | | | | perfect for your own unique taste buds. All you |
| wine's longevity and also to your enjoyment. Too | | | | need is just a little knowledge as described above |
| little can affect the wine's quality and too much | | | | and the willingness to explore. If you are |
| can spoil the wine. A higher acidity makes the | | | | interested in comparative wine tasting, may be a |
| wine more tart and sour tasting; whereas a low | | | | good place to get started. |
| acidity results in flat tasting wine that is more | | | | And most importantly, be open to the possibilities |
| susceptible to spoilage. | | | | and then, make note of them and learn from |
| Acidity is that quality that makes your mouth | | | | them. |
| water and your lips pucker, and without it, wines | | | | |