Tasting wine is more than just drinking it. There is a proper way to taste and enjoy the beverage like a pro. Here are the five major steps that will unleash the wine connoisseur in you. The goal of wine tasting is to connect with the content in the bottle. The moment you order a bottle of wine, the story of “wine tasting” starts. We are going to share a Bonus Step at the end that will give you an added advantage. So, forget everything and let’s dive in.
STEP 1 – SEE THE WINE
When you open a bottle of wine, the first thing to do is note the varietal, vintage and brand. Next, pour the wine into a glass, and hold the glass by its stem in a bright and well-lit room or environment. With this step, you will be able to see the color and clarity.
According to Damily Wine, the wine should be clear with a distinctive color based on the varietal. This is true for all wines except unfiltered wine. Unpolished wine is dull and neither attractive nor inviting. Color can tell you the age of the wine. The wine color is based on appellation and the temperature of the process. Climate is both a friend and an enemy to grape growers. Determining which varietals to grow depends on soil, landscape, temperature and geographical area.
STEP 2 – SWIRL THE WINE IN THE GLASS
This is our favorite step. Want to impress your friends? Swirl the wine in a glass. To do this, place the glass on a firm surface like a table or counter, hold the stem of the glass with your index and middle finger, then move the glass around in circles. The popular term which most novices refer to as the “legs” is actually the viscosity of the wine which is seen after swirling. Dense wines will tend to have more “legs”. Note of caution: Be careful to not hold the glass itself with your hand; it can make the wine warm which makes the alcohol evaporates quicker. This can affect the flavors of the wine.
STEP 3 – SMELL THE WINE
Wine tasting begins with the nose which can detect lots of different aromas. The nose detects a wine’s complex aromas when it is swirled. The aromas attach to oxygen which makes the wine easier to smell. The sense of smell is linked to a part of the brain that processes memory. Smelling wine prepares the brain for what is about to be tasted. When smelling wine, put your nose as close to the glass as you can and take a deep breath with your mouth closed. Try to identify the different aromas; peach, vanilla, peppers, oak, etc
STEP 4 – SIP THE WINE
The highlight of wine tasting is sipping. There is, however, an art to sipping wine that enables you to enjoy its distinctive flavors. Sip the wine and let it sit in your mouth for a moment. You may also choose to swish it around in your mouth to awaken all your taste buds. Before doing so, allow the wine to linger on your tongue and think about the different scents your nose picked up while smelling the wine. Can you taste any of them? Next, swallow the wine if that is the only bottle you are sampling from or spit it out if you are sampling different bottles.
STEP 5 – SAVOR IT
Savoring wine is done slowly while appreciating its distinctive flavors. It is an experience, an adventure. The sensation you get from swallowing wine can be very different from the one you get from sipping. When the wine slips down your throat, you experience a long-lasting sensation. The length of time the wine sensation and taste stays with you is called the finish. A deep and complex finish conveys a lot about the quality. Make a toast and let the tasting begin.
BONUS STEP
The bonus step is the pairing of wine. Thesimplegoalofwinepairingistomakefood and wine taste better than they would on their own. Wine pairing is a skill and passion for many food enthusiasts, but the intricacies of matching food and wine can be intimidating to a new wine professional like you.
Some of the popular pairing examples of food with wine include cheese, dry fruits, steak, salmon, chicken and so on. The list is very long. But your favorite combination is your choice.
Damily wine specializes in personalized labels. Our wines are made from carefully selected grapes and made in small batches.
Congratulations, you are now a professional wine taster. Go ahead, impress your friends. CHEERS!!!
