| if you have blissfully enjoyed wine for years | | | | knife to cut it is heavy. Light versus heavy is a |
| without learning the vocabulary and tasting | | | | great way to describe body differences in wine. |
| techniques boasted by oenophiles, you can very | | | | Next time you are at a wine tasting, ask the |
| easily enhance your wine experience with a little | | | | representative which wine is lighter and begin with |
| knowledge. By learning the words associated with | | | | that. Focus on the weight of the light wine |
| wine, you will be able to more accurately choose | | | | compared to the heavier one and see which you |
| new wines that you will enjoy rather than | | | | enjoy more. |
| haphazardly choosing things to try at random. | | | | When you taste a wine, there are so many things |
| Bouquet and aroma are simply wine speak for | | | | that can set it apart from another. The flavor of |
| how it smells. Before tasting wine, smell it. See if | | | | the barrel where it was aged; the fruit flavors and |
| you can distinguish the aroma of the fruit, a spice | | | | their intensity; how sweet or dry it is; and the |
| or maybe even the oak barrel. A major part of | | | | acidity are all considerations in whether you like it |
| wine enjoyment derives from the smell of it. To | | | | or not. However, probably the most confusing |
| enhance the aroma before you taste it, swirl the | | | | characteristic is tannin. |
| wine in your glass to let it breathe more. The | | | | Tannins are derived from the grape skin and |
| oxygen it encounters will open up the scent of | | | | seeds. They are much more present in red wines |
| the wine. Now you know why people swirl and | | | | and especially un-aged, red wines. They are what |
| sniff their glass before the wine even makes it to | | | | give a wine a taste of bitterness and also what |
| their lips. | | | | would make us pucker a little upon tasting a |
| Clarity and color go hand in hand. They typically | | | | tannic wine, the astringency of it. Tannins add |
| will help you to determine how old a wine is. | | | | character and quality to red wines. It is often |
| Darker reds and gold colored whites are more | | | | what sets apart those who enjoy red wines |
| mature than clear reds and yellow or pale whites. | | | | versus those who enjoy whites – the |
| Clear wines also indicate good quality. If you take | | | | tannic quality they enjoy in their glass. |
| time to notice the color and clarity of wine before | | | | This is a very incomplete and basic beginning to |
| you drink it, you will start to become more aware | | | | understanding the complexities of wine. There are |
| of what you enjoy and what you do not and will | | | | infinite things to learn and take into account if you |
| even be able to decide whether or not to try | | | | want to spend the time doing so. A preliminary |
| something based on how it looks. | | | | understanding of the terms that are batted about |
| The body of the wine refers to the weight of it | | | | when wine is discussed though will help you |
| or how it feels in your mouth. If you spoke about | | | | tremendously as you try new wines and broaden |
| body in regards to fish, you would say that fish | | | | your repertoire of wines you enjoy. |
| that flakes easily is light and fish that needs a | | | | |