Wine Tasting 101 - Down Under

One established technique that can help youscientific study we are told that human taste
acquire good wine tasting skills is to use a notepadbuds are able to discern only four basic flavors
to jot down whatever impressions you gatherthat are sour, sweet, bitter and salty. In fact
when tasting some wine that you find interesting.taste is a complex sensory experience that
You can develop upon this by holding discussionscombines the signals given through taste buds
with other wine loving friends and acquaintancesalong with the senses of touch and smell. While
to share your impressions, which will give you anwine tasting, how it feels in the mouth, whether
insight into what other people think about it, andwatery thin or oily and viscous, conveys lightness
let you know whether you are on the right track.or weight and forms an essential part of the wine
But this can be challenging as expressing winetasting experience.
opinions and advice to a crowd of people who areGood wine also smells good! Take a deep whiff
wine savvy may result in facing criticism and evenand relax while making out how it smells. Does it
abuse.smell like fruit, flowers, tar or dirty socks? Take a
Wine tasting is basically savoring the wine, usingsip and enjoy the feeling letting your taste buds
your visual and olfactory faculties and your tasterelish the luxurious flavor as you swirl the wine
buds above all, to determine its levels of quality.around your mouth sensing its taste texture and
Your senses are the real judges. So how do youweight. Then jot down your feelings. Remember,
go about it? You take the glass of wine and holdit may not be easy. Why? One taster closing his
it up to the light watching its color to judge theeyes tried to explain the taste and found it to be
vintage and taste. Although visual appearance isclose to apples and grapes, figs and coconuts,
no sure shot indicator of taste, it is generallywood chips and old shoes!
expected that bright transparent wines will tasteIf wine reeks of vinegar it is an indication that it is
delightful, whereas those that are cloudy and dullspoilt. However, a sort of sharp, crisp acidity is
in color will have a less appealing taste. Therefore,desirable to make the wine an amiable companion
appearance is an indicator of what the mouth andto a food dish like fish. Wines with too little acid
nose can expect.may be mellow but do not stand up well with
As for color and flavor, white wines young in agefood.
have a pale greenish to clear white countenanceWine tasting may involve differentiating between
and dryness in taste while maturity imparts avarious aromas. Here are a few sample aromas!
deep golden brownish tinge and nectar like taste.Fruity, nutty, woody, vegetative, caramelized,
Red wines of recent vintage will display an opaqueearthy, chemical, pungent, floral, and spicy.
purplish hue and a rather brash taste, while theRemember that each has further sub-categories.
bright pink/rose colors are mellow and goodSo take your time and keep practicing. You may
tasting.turn out to be more successful than many others.
Tasting is a complex issue. On the basis ofHappy wine tasting!