5 Steps to Wine Tasting
In your search to discover and experience the companionship of a bottle of wine or shall I say glass, I thought I'd introduce you to Wine Tasting 101 for those of you wanting the simple knowledge of what makes wine different from any other drink in the world. SIGHT, SWIRL, SMELL, SLURP, SAVOUR are the keys to the mysteries of understanding each bottle, oops I did it again, I meant glass of wine! I, also, did not say SAVIOR but SAVOUR. The five steps, SIGHT, SWIRL, SMELL, SLURP, SAVOUR are real similar to the key ingredients we look for in a human companion! I'm sure some of you would agree and some have no idea what I'm writing about....so let's get on with it!
SIGHT
Never, never, never hold your glass by the bowl, that is the purpose of the stem. Nasty fingerprints interrupt the beauty of the glass of wine. Raise and tilt the glass towards a light source or white background to observe the intensity of the color , age and clarity of the wine.
SWIRL
Grasp the stem and swirl the wine in the bowl, this takes a little practice(so don't stop by the winery to practice cause this would slow our production down), which releases the aromas and flavors in the wine allowing it to come alive. This too will let you see the"legs"
of the wine. See, I told you this was like a woman!
SMELL
Insert your schnoz into the glass...inhale long and deep. Be carful if you have a larger schnoz...! Now you should be able to experience the nose, bouquet, aroma, or smell of the wine. Some things you should be schnozing for are flavors of fruits, oaks, herbs, spices, etc. Close your eyes, if you wish! Now, are you starting to feel the comparison to a woman?
SLURP
Not going there!!!! After taking a small sip of wine, draw a little air into your mouth. Too much air can choke you, it happens all the time here, and not enough air... well, you know. (Once again, this takes practice, so don't stop by the winery to practice.) Gently move the wine throughout your palate to discover the flavors and character of the wine. Again, you may close your eyes for this part. This is my favorite part!
SAVOUR
Notice the spelling, not SAVIOR! To claim this you must let the wine touch every part of your tongue and cheeks. Try to imagine what it is moving across your palate...the unique flavors, the acidity, the smoothness, the fullness of the wine. Then swallow....how long does the wines character linger in your mouth, does it have a "burn" in your throat, can you feel it in your tummy? These can all be good sensations! This step is known as the finish! See there, it didn't take long at all. Hope you enjoyed!
Try these steps with different wines, red, whites, fruits, muscadines, sweet, semi-sweet, dry "no sugar", Berta wines, etc. You should enjoy your wine and if not, then it's time to move on. Now this you shouldn't dare try with your woman or man!