Tasting Wine Tips
Wine Lover Accessories
By Kim Phelan
Wine tasting is not the same as wine drinking. The objective of a wine tasting is to analyze, judge and classify a wine which requires a level of concentration not associated with wine drinking. Here are a few tips for a successful wine tasting:
Stemware: The shape of a wine glass can affect the overall perception of the wine. The ideal glassware for tastings is those that are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, also known as tulip or egg shaped.
Senses: Use your senses as a guideline for reviewing the subtle differences in wines during a tasting. Inspecting the color and clarity will distinguish a glass of Merlot from a Cabernet Sauvignon, and an older wine from a younger one. Red wines will vary in color from ruby to garnet to brick, while the whites can be clear to pale yellow to golden. Additionally, your sense of smell is critical to analyzing the quality and unique characteristics of a glass of wine. Simply swirl the wine around in your glass and then hold to your nose. Repeat several times to pick up on the full range of different aromas. Common scents include floral, citrus, vanilla, fruit and oak. Last, take a small amount into your mouth and taste the wine. Are the flavors the same as the aromas? Is the wine crisp or creamy, sweet or dry, light or heavy? How long does the wine flavor remain on your palate?
Remember that tasting wine is a sensory examination of wine. For the recreational taster it is much less an analytical process as a more general one for personal pleasure.
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