July, 2003
What's the key to finding wines that you like? It may seem redundant, but it's
understanding what wines you like and why. And there's no better way to
understand your own preferences than to taste a lot of different wines. Wines
made from different grapes, from different regions and different years.
So let’s look at how to effectively taste wine so as to develop your own tasting
skills and become more aware of the wines that will please you. This will
help focus your wine buying and drinking habits.
For some people the idea of tasting wine is as simple as sipping coffee or
eating pizza. They just open up and enjoy. Others stress at the idea of wine
tasting, fearing that they're incapable of making any judgment as to their own
preferences let alone the wine's merit. While "tasting" requires more effort
than just drinking wine, it's a fun experience and not one to be dreaded.
Anyone can make basic observations about a glass of wine. And with a little
practice, a person can become an effective wine taster.
So the first tip is to relax and have fun. There are no right or wrong answers
as each person's tastes and preferences are unique. Just gather some
friends and let the juice flow.
Here's Looking at You
There's actually more to wine tasting than just the taste of the wine. Hold the
glass to the light or against a white tablecloth and swirl it around. What are
the colors you see and how intense are they? The depth of color often
corresponds with the depth of flavor. Does it look like something you want to
drink?
Bouquet
You probably noticed the wine's bouquet (smells) when you were swirling the
wine in the glass. That swirling motion actually releases the aromas. Place
your nose inside the rim. What are the aromas that strike you? Is it fruity,
floral, chocolate or earthy? Different wine grapes deliver different aromas and
a single wine may combine many aromas. Some are appealing and some
are not.
Tastes
Now that you've looked at and smelled the wine, it's time to actually try it. Take
a sip and hold it in your mouth. Move the wine around and consider the
various tastes that you sense. Try and identify specific flavors. Do you taste
berry, citrus, butter, vanilla? Is the wine sweet or acidic? In addition to the
flavors, consider the body or weight of the wine. Is it thick and heavy or light
and airy? Does the body match up with the flavors? Can you taste too much
alcohol? Too little?
Now swallow (or spit out) the wine. How long do the flavors remain and are
there any different aftertastes? This lingering of flavors is know as the finish.
Some wines seem to last long after they're gone and others have a very brief
finish. Think about what you liked and didn't like about the wine and most
importantly, consider if you'd like to have more.
Go ahead and take another sip. Does the second taste confirm the first or are
there new tastes emerging? Be specific when identifying flavors. Do you
taste blackberry or black cherry? Lemon or lime?
Overall Impression
Once you've contemplated the wine's flavor, take one last sip and think about
the wine in its entirety. What is the overall impression you get? It's important
to consider balance, or the way everything works together. Every wine offers
some fruit, sweetness, acidity and alcohol, but not every wine is blended in a
way that balances them. Would you like to have this wine again or was it just
another chance to develop your tasting skills?
Those are the basics of tasting wine. Many people find it helpful to jot down
notes as they taste wines. You can identify the specific colors, aromas, tastes
and body and include a brief summary of your overall impression. Taking
such notes will help develop your tasting skills and provide a helpful reminder
of which wines you like and don't. And after all, that's the primary purpose of
tasting in the first place.
Back to Wine Education.
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