If
you've ever thought of going to a wine tasting, but felt intimidated
and unsure how to act or what to do, this handy guide will tell you
everything you need to know about a wine tasting.
Going to a wine tasting can be a very fun and enjoyable experience.
However, many people do not attend for fear of not knowing exactly how
to act or what to do. There no great mystery to wine tastings, just a
few things you should remember.
As far as etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the
gentlemen. Some wine tastings offer you bottled water. Use this to
rinse out your mouth between tastings so your palate is clean for the
next wine. There is often unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to
help palate cleansing as well. You should always handle the wine glass
by the stem. This helps avoid heating the wine with the warmth of your
hands, thus altering the taste. Avoid wearing strong perfumes and
colognes to a wine tasting. That may take away from not only your
smell, but also that of the other guests. Also, avoid smoking, gum, and
mints before and during a wine tasting to be able to enjoy the full
flavor of the wine.
You can tell a lot about a wine just by looking at its color. When you
attend a wine tasting, the glasses should always be clear so you can
get a good look at the wine. The tables may also be covered with white
tablecloths to help you see the wine's color clearly. Do not let the
wine name full you. For example, white wines are not white in color.
They may range from yellow to green to brown. Red wines range in color
from pale red to a deep brownish red and often become lighter with age.
Sometimes the color of a wine may indicate age or flavor. You may be
able to tell the age of a red wine by doing a rim test. Tilt the glass
slightly towards the rim of the wine glass and look at the wine. If the
color of the red wine is more of a purple, it is usually a younger
wine. If the color of the red wine is brown, it is an older wine.
Another thing you may have seen people do before they taste wine is
swirl it slightly in the glass. This is to help open up the wine's
flavor. Remember that the wine may have been in a bottle anywhere from
six months to many, many years. When someone swirls a wine, it helps
release the flavors. Just like when you're cooking at home and stir the
food to help blend the flavors.
The color of the wine is just one aspect you will want to look at when
you attend a wine tasting. You will also want to smell the wine. After
swirling, this is the next step in the tasting process. You have
probably seen people smell wine before and wondered why they did it.
Smell plays a very important part in what we taste. Researchers have
determined that perhaps as much as 75% of what we taste is actually
based on what we smell first. You can smell your wine one of two ways:
taking a small whiff to get an idea of how the wine smells, then a
deeper whiff or take one deep whiff. After smelling the wine, take a
minute to think about the smell. You do not want to immediately taste
it after smelling but give yourself time to explore exactly what you
smelled.
Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly. Your
tongue has taste buds in both the front and back. These taste buds can
detect bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, but some are more
sensitive than others are. There are three steps in tasting a wine: the
first impression, the taste, and the aftertaste. The first impression
happens when you take your first drink and the wine actually hits your
taste buds. It should awaken your sense to the wine. After taking the
first drink, you should swish the wine around your mouth for a few
seconds to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the
wine. Think about what the wine tastes like. Is it light or heavy? Is
the smooth or harsh? The aftertaste is the sensation that remains in
your mouth after swallowing the wine. How long did it last and was it
pleasant?
Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to
read about the different types of wines. This will give you a better
idea of what to look for as far as flavor and taste. Next time you are
invited to a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go. You may be missing a
great experience!
