Wineries are not usually too particular about how you should or shouldn't taste wine. However, following these 5 easy steps when tasting wine will allow you to experience each wine with multiple senses and provide you with a richer experience overall. 1. Look at the wine - A big tulip-shaped glass that is broad at the base and narrower at the top will help to concentrate the aromas of the wine and bring them most efficiently to your nose. - Tilt the glass against a white background to enjoy the range of colors from the center to the rim. 2. Smell the wine - Swirl the wine in your glass to release locked-in aromas. - Stick your nose into the glass and inhale slowly. - Interpret the smells. There is no correct or incorrect interpretation of a wine's smell. Some aromas you may detect are: spice, vanilla, cedar, toast, berry, and a million others. Let your nose decide. - Your nose tires quickly so give it a break after a few seconds, then go back to the wine. - It's worth jotting down notes on a wine's smell as it can be helpful in remembering the wine at a later date. 3. Taste the the wine - Take a sip large enough to fill your mouth about 1/3 full. - The tongue can detect very basic flavor elements: Sweetness at the tip, acidity at the sides, and bitterness at the back. - The real tasting goes on in a cavity at the back of the mouth (which is really part of the nose). 4. Evaluate the wine - Note any acidity and sweetness that the tongue detects. - Gently 'chew' the wine as if it were a piece of food, letting it coat your tongue, teeth, cheeks, and gums. - Don't try too hard to search out flavors and aromas; they are more likely to come to you when you are relaxed. - Take note of your reaction to the wine overall. Most wineries offer a place for you to write down notes for the wines you've tasted. 5. Swallow or spit the wine out - Wine tasters sometimes decide to spit wine out after they've tasted it to simply remain sober. If you are visiting many wineries in one day you might consider spitting. It will not offend anyone if you decide to spit. - After spitting or swallowing, make a final note of any lingering aftertaste. Basic Tasting Vocabulary * Nose- the name for the smell of wine. Other terms for the smell are aroma, usually used for young wines, and bouquet, usually used for mature wines. * Palate- the taste of the wine in your mouth. * Sweetness- this will be the first sensation as the wine hits the tip of your tongue. If a wine lacks sweetness this element will be nonexistent. * Fruit- this flavor comes from grapes, yet wine seldom tastes of grapes. Instead flavors can resemble plums, strawberries, or many other fruits. * Acidity- this is what makes the wine crisp. You will notice the taste of acidity on the sides of your tongue. * Tannin- the mouth-drying substance found in red wines. Tannin contributes to the body and weight of the wine. * Weight or body- describes the different impressions of weight and size wines give in the mouth. * Length- the final factor to consider when assessing a wine. A wine with a good length leaves a lingering taste in your mouth after you swallow or spit it out. * Balance- The relationship between all elements of the wine: sweetness, fruit, acidity, body, and tannin.
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