| One of the fastest ways to develop a knowledge | | | | vinification process or because the cork has dried |
| base of wines you enjoy is to taste them. This | | | | out, will give off a smell resembling Sherry or |
| can be a lot of fun. Go to your local wine & | | | | Madeira. A barnyard like could mean the wine is |
| spirits store; gather up a bunch of bottles and | | | | spoiled by yeast, and a smell like nail polish |
| head home for a night of tasting adventures. You | | | | remover could mean the wine has a volatile |
| might have more success if you ask the wine | | | | acidity. |
| clerk for suggestions, or check out the ratings | | | | On the up side, you are most likely to meet with |
| affixed to bins at the store. Check out wine | | | | a pleasant smell and there are hundreds of them, |
| reviews online (Wine Library TV is a good place | | | | including complex fruit smells from blackberries, |
| to start) or check out what the experts say in | | | | black currants, and cassis. |
| wine publications like Wine Spectator. Depending | | | | "Your nose will actually tell you more about a wine |
| on your preferred learning method, you may find | | | | than your mouth, because our sense of taste is |
| it helpful to do a vertical tasting, which means | | | | actually restricted to four categories: sweet, sour, |
| sampling wines of the same variety but with | | | | salty, and bitter," says Meltzer. "To minimize the |
| different vintages. | | | | impact of a wine on your palate, slosh it around in |
| There's no shame is doing a taste test at home | | | | your mouth, aerating it by taking in deep breaths |
| alone (just be sure to spit out the wine or you | | | | at the same time. Ideally, keep the wine in your |
| won't be able to remember what you liked and | | | | mouth for at least 10 second before expelling it |
| what you didn't!). It is also a great way to spend | | | | into a spittoon or slop bowl." |
| the evening with a friend or significant other. | | | | Young, mature or brand new, choosing a wine |
| Okay, so you've got your bottles of wine. Before | | | | that's right for you |
| you start tasting, take a moment to familiarize | | | | Don't worry; we weren't going to leave you to |
| yourself with the proper way to taste wine. | | | | your own devices. If you'd like to try wines from |
| These techniques actually help you appreciate the | | | | areas other than the most popular regions, here |
| wineÑthey are not simply to make you look | | | | are some tips. David Muse, wine writer and |
| smart (although they undoubtedly do). | | | | sommelier, likes to try wines from what he calls |
| Tasting Basics | | | | "exciting regions." "For me right now Austria is |
| "For the home taster, conducting a blind tasting is | | | | producing wines that are of incomparable quality |
| a great way to focus one's tasting skills, but it's | | | | and like nothing youÕve had before," says |
| not essential if your objective is simply to learn | | | | Muse. "Gruner Veltliner is this luscious white wine |
| about the wine," Peter Meltzer, wine critic for | | | | that is more ductile than almost anything. It goes |
| Wine Spectator, says in his best-selling book | | | | with all the typical wine killers: shrimp, artichokes, |
| author of Keys to the Cellar. "It's better to first | | | | tomatoes." |
| grasp the salient characteristics of different | | | | Looking to impress your friends? According to |
| varietals and vintages by sampling a series of | | | | Muse some good wines reaching maturity include |
| related bottles in a pressure-free environment in | | | | the famed 1997 California Cabs. "The fruit is |
| order to develop personal preferences." | | | | tempered and their nuances are coming out. I |
| Jim Kennedy, President of BaggedWine.com, | | | | recently had a Caymus Special Select that was |
| argues the merits of doing a blind tasting. He says | | | | overwhelmingly good, and I don't normally like |
| that blind tastings are the best wine to taste the | | | | domestic wines. Also, Late 80s Grand Cru |
| wine rather than the marketing effort behind the | | | | Champagne is good. I had a Krug 'Le Mesnil' at |
| wine. "When tasting blind you should only taste | | | | lunch from '86 that was lively yet playful." |
| one varietal at a time to ensure that the process | | | | If you want a wine that's ready to serve young, |
| is not too complex for those at the tasting," he | | | | Muse suggests Beaujolais. "Everyone knows by |
| says. "This is intended to be fun rather than giving | | | | now that Beaujolais is drinkable," he says. The |
| the feeling of a sommelier test." | | | | wine is bottled and consumed within months of |
| Wine is evaluated by its color, bouquet, palate, | | | | the grapes being picked. Also, there is a wine |
| and aftertaste. To fully appreciate a wine's | | | | from Austria called Jungfernwein, or Virgin wine. |
| characteristics, Meltzer recommends tasting white | | | | This is wine produced from first year vines, newly |
| wines at cellar temperature (about 55 degrees) | | | | planted. It lacks complexity, but so do many |
| and reds at about 65-70 degrees to avoid | | | | Sunday afternoons by the pool." |
| compromising the wine aromas and flavors. And, | | | | For adventurous types, there are some new |
| if you're truly serious, skip the cologne and | | | | varietals coming to market. "Portugal is bottling |
| perfume, as they interfere with the aroma of the | | | | still, unfortified versions of the grapes traditionally |
| wine's bouquet. | | | | used to make Port," Muse says. "They are |
| Let Your Nose do the Talking | | | | wonderful, but often high priced. A single varietal |
| Meltzer says to hold the wine glass by its stem | | | | to be on the lookout for from Portugal is Periquita. |
| (holding it by the bowl leaves smudges, obscures | | | | Also, get your hands on Blaufrankisch, made from |
| the color and warms the wine). Hold it against a | | | | an Austrian red grape that produces wines similar |
| white backdrop to examine the color. Not sure | | | | to Cabernet though not quite as punchy as the |
| what you're looking for? Look at its hue. Is it | | | | US versions." |
| bright or flat? Clear or cloudy? "As red wine ages, | | | | Developing a true appreciation for the flavors, |
| it devolves from bright red or purple into brick or | | | | vinification process and complexities of wine takes |
| mahogany, browning around its edges," says | | | | time. Developing a list of wines you like may take |
| Meltzer. "White wine will turn progressively golden | | | | even longer. Building a respectable home collection |
| as it matures. Wines that are the product of less | | | | could take years. Purchasing wine is not like buying |
| than perfect harvest will be less intense than | | | | clothes--what you see is not necessarily what you |
| those picked under ideal conditions." | | | | get. |
| Next, rest the glass on the table and swirl it. | | | | Wine Tasting Essentials |
| When the wine settles, you should see a clear film | | | | Having a tasting? Here is a quick list of supplies: |
| on the side of the glass, called legs. You may | | | | - Wine glasses (make sure you have plenty! Wine |
| have seen a wine snob or too making a big show | | | | charms are a good idea if you are having several |
| about a wine's "legs" but in reality it's just a | | | | guests, so no one confuses his or her glass with |
| measure of the wine's alcohol contentÑthe | | | | someone else's). |
| more you see, the higher the alcohol content. | | | | - White table cloth (so guests can examine the |
| "Swirl the glass vigorously and inhale deeply," | | | | wine's color, density, legs) |
| Meltzer advises. "Try to detect any 'off' odors." If | | | | - Spittoons (for spitting out the wine). |
| you smell a heavy cork smell, the wine may be | | | | - Bowls with unsalted crackers or baguette to |
| bad. Any scents that are moldy or musty are a | | | | cleanse the palate. |
| warning sign. An oxidized wine, which means it has | | | | - Tasting sheet for notes. |
| been exposed for too long to the air in the | | | | And of course, don't forget the wine! |