Discovering the nuances of taste will increase your enjoyment of drinking wine and will help you to select what wines best suit your palate. Going to wine tastings at Cellar Doors or at events are a great way to expand your horizons and to try new wines before committing to buying a whole bottle.
Here are a few fun steps to get the most out of your wine tasting experience, but remember there is nothing right or wrong about your view of this experience. This is a highly subjective process. One person′s perceived fault may turn out to be one person′s point of enjoyment. Trust your own palate and instincts.
Look
- Clarity is an indication of the character and condition of the wine
- Hue is its colour
- Depth is how deep the wine appears i.e. dark, medium or light
Smell
- Swirl the wine gently to coat the interior of the glass and to release the wine aromas
- Sniff confidently. Our sense of smell is one of our most powerful senses.
- Inhale smoothly and through your nose also draw a small amount of air through your mouth. Try to indentify as many flavour compounds as possible.
Aromas refer to smells derived from grapes and include fruit descriptors (including herbs and spices) i.e. berry, lemon, etc
Bouquet refers to smells derived from the winemaking process, i.e. oak
- Taste the amount of wine that feels comfortable to you. Hold the wine in your mouth and suck air through it this may take some practise. Move the wine around in your mouth and take note how the flavour changes. Wine terms to describe the taste include; intensity, concentration, body, complexity and balance. Don′t be afraid to ask questions.
- Spit - We′ll leave this part up to you. It is important if you are driving on a wine tasting day - the more you spit, the more wines you get to taste!
After looking, swirling, sniffing, tasting and potentially spitting, think about your views on the wine. Discuss with your friends and the person holding the tasting but remember, the only view on the wine that matters, is your own.