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| Learn What You Like & What You Don't! |
| 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 feared. 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. |
