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Wine Tasting for Common Folk
from: Maxx Guide to WineA wine tasting event is lots of fun for both wine enthusiasts and those who are trying wine for the first time. Unfortunately, some people are afraid to attend a wine tasting because they don't know how to act or what to do. Actually, there's no trick to wine tastings, just a few simple proceedures to remember.
When it comes to etiquette, ladies are usually served before gentlemen. Some wine tastings provide bottled water for you to use to rinse out your mouth between tastings so you have a clean palate for the next wine. You'll also often find unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to help clean the palate as well.
Always handle your wine glass by the stem to avoid heating the wine due to the warmth of your hands, which will alter the taste of the wine. Don't wear strong perfumes or colognes while attending a wine tasting since these aromas could take away from your smell and that of other participants. In addition, avoid smoking, chewing gum or mints before and during a wine tasting so you can fully appreciate the flavor of the wines.
You can perceive a lot about a wine by simply observing its color. The glasses at a wine tasting should always be clear so you get a good look at the wine. Tables should also be covered with white tablecloths to help you see the wine's color clearly.
Don't let the wine's name fool you. For instance, white wines aren't actually white in color, but range from yellow to green to brown. Red wines are pale red to a deep brownish red and can become lighter with age.
Sometimes the color of a wine indicates its age or flavor. You may be able to determine the age of a red wine by doing a rim test. Tilt your glass slightly towards the rim of the wine glass and look at the wine. If the red wine is more of a purple color, this usually means it's a younger wine -- if the color is brown, it's an older wine.
Before tasting the wine many people swirl it slightly in their1 glass. The purpose of this action is to help open up the wine's flavor. The wine you're sampling may have been in its bottle from six months to many years. Swirling the wine helps release the flavors. This is similar to when you're cooking and you stir the food to help blend the flavors.
After observing the color of the wine you'll also want to smell the wine. This is the next step after swirling. You've probably noticed people smell wine and wondered why. Aroma is a very important part in what you taste. In fact, as much as 75% of what we taste is actually based on what we first smell.
You'll be able to smell your wine in one of two ways: by taking a small whiff, you get an idea of how the wine smells; then take a deeper whiff or one deep whiff. Once you've smelled the wine, consider what you've smelled. Don't immediately taste it after smelling but take a minute to give yourself time to explore exactly what you smelled.
Finally, you'll want to know how to properly taste the wine. Your tongue has taste buds at the front and back which detect bitter, salty, sweet and sour flaors, but some are more sensitive than others.
There are three steps in tasting a wine -- first impression, the taste and the aftertaste. The first impression is when you take your first sip and the wine hits your taste buds. This should awaken your sense to the wine. Once you're taken your first drink, swish the wine around in your mouth for a few moments to let all your taste buds discover the full flavor of the wine.
Consider how the wine tastes -- light or heavy? Smooth or harsh? Aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth once you've swallowed the wine. How long did it last? Was the aftertaste pleasant?
If you're new to wine and wine tasting events, you can build your confidence by reading about different types of wines so you have a good idea what to look for as far as flavor and taste goes. So don't be afraid attend, you'll be missing out on a great adventure.
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