Wine Tasting Guide for Beginners || How to Taste a Wine like a Pro || Wine Tasting

 

Wine, as one of life's greatest pleasures, requires careful consideration. Nonetheless, no wine tasting process has gained widespread acceptance. Most expert wine tasters have a favoured method. Although necessary for critical tasting, the techniques outlined here are far too thorough for the dinner table. The distinction is analogous to the distinction between score analysis and music enjoyment. A critical tasting evaluates one or more wines to a real or hypothetical standard. Wine with a meal, on the other hand, is meant to be savoured as a liquid refreshment. Although serious wine analysis is unsuitable for the dining room due to the distractions of conversation and the interference of food flavours, the attention required for wine analysis may substantially boost appreciation.

In this blog we are going to see how wine is tasted perfectly:

Tasting Process: (5s' of Wine)

1. See (Appearance)
2. Swirl (Aeration)
3. Sniff (Odor)
4. Sip (In-mouth Sensation)
5. Spit.

The process described here is a synthesis of expertise obtained from evaluating tasters, but it is a good starting point. There is no perfect technique for everyone. The willingness, desire, and capacity to focus one's attention on the qualities of the wine is perhaps the most important quality of a serious taster.

Note: Each wine sample should be poured into identical, clear, tulip-shaped wine glass. The glass should be filled 1/4 or 1/3 with wine.

First, we will discuss the 5s’ Strategy as mentioned above:

See (Appearance):

• View each wine glass at 30^o-45^o angle opposite to the white background.
• Check and record the Clarity or the Haziness of the wine, Color tone of the wine, and also look for tears/ legs of the wine.

Swirl (Aeration):

• Wine is primarily a mixture of alcohol and water. Under a microscope, pure water forms a neat, grid-like pattern of molecules. When we add alcohol into the mix, this grid is disrupted. As wine sits in the glass, because of the polarities of water and alcohol molecules, some of the alcohol molecules will tend to form a layer at the point where the liquid meets the air.

  This thin layer allows for volatilization of aromatic compounds that would otherwise be stuck in the solution. When we swirl wine, we gently disrupt this layer and any compounds that were present on the surface float into the air concentrate in the bowl of the wine glass (thus its shape). Stirring aggressively, you would be churning up other heavier molecules that would never volatilize and could get in the way of molecules that need the help of the thin surface layer to get airborne.

  There’s also the wall effect. Swirling gets liquid up the sides of the glass, and the thin film left behind increases the surface area of exposed liquid for the volatiles to evaporate. Down below a commenter accurately added another factor: adding kinetic energy helps molecules on the edge of evaporation volatilize.

Sniff (Odor):

• Sniff each sample both before and after swirling the wine.
• Sniff the wine firstly at the mouth and then the bowl (In deep).
• Record the intensity of the aroma (fragrance) & flavor.

Sip (In-mouth Sensation):

• Take 5-10 ml of wine sample on palate (into the mouth).
• Move the wine that it will cover the tongue, cheeks and palate. 
• Sense the taste whether it is acidic, sweet or bitter and note down the experience and how long it last with their intensity. 
• Concentrate on the sensation of astringency, body (mouthfeel) and heat.

Spit:

• You can swallow the wine after tasting or professionals use to spit the win into the cuspidor as if there are more wines to taste afterwards.
• Any odor detected in this manner is termed after smell; it is usually found on the fine wines.

The majority of European authorities believe that quality should be judged solely within regional appellations, and therefore advise against comparative tastings between regions or grape varietals. Although these limitations make tastings easier, they eliminate much of their utility in encouraging quality improvement. Comparative tasting can be especially illuminating when the focus is on artistic quality rather than stylistic purity. Comparative tastings are more common in England and the New World, where artistic excellence is valued more than conformity to regional norms.

It takes time to fully evaluate a wine's sensory characteristics. As a result, it is often used only in comparison tastings. Individual wines are only worth the effort if they are of extremely high quality, expressing a wide variety of sensory qualities and justifying the time spent.

Improve Your Wine Tasting Experience with these Recommendations:

Consider these highly suggested instruments to enrich your wine tasting trip and make the most of the 5s' Strategy:

• Wine Glasses: The quality of your wine glass is more important than you would imagine. To fully appreciate the wine's look, colour, and legs, use tulip-shaped, transparent glasses. Explore Recommended Wine Glasses.
• Aeration equipment: Use aeration equipment to bring out the full potential of your wine's scents. Swirling aids the process, although specialist aerators can improve it. Here are some Aeration Equipment.
• Wine Tasting journal: Keep a wine tasting journal to record your sensory impressions and tasting notes. It's an excellent approach to hone your taste and keep track of your wine experiences. Here are some Tasting Journal.
• Sommelier Kit: A full sommelier kit may be beneficial for individuals seeking a better understanding. It features a variety of tools to help with all aspects of wine tasting. Investigate Sommelier Kits.
• Decanter: Using a decanter allows your wine to breathe and unveil its flavours. It's ideal for wines that require a little extra aeration. Learn About Decanters.

These items can improve your wine tasting experiences, making them more pleasurable and informative.

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What happens in wine tasting?

    A wine tasting involves a thorough appraisal of wines. It includes inspecting the colour, swirling to determine viscosity, sniffing to detect smells, tasting to distinguish flavours, and evaluating the finish or aftertaste.

2. What is a concept of wine tasting?

    The skill of assessing and evaluating wine through sensory impressions is known as wine tasting. It entails detecting several components including as smells, flavours, acidity, tannins, body, and finish.

3. What is the reason for wine tasting?

    Tasting wine helps both amateurs and experts to learn about the quality, characteristics, and subtleties of various wines. It assists in making educated choices regarding preferences, matches, and purchases.

4. Why is wine tasting so difficult?

    Wine tasting may be difficult owing to the nuances and intricacies involved. Individual sensitivity to scents, variances in wine, and the subjective nature of taste impressions all contribute to it being a subtle talent to master.

5. What wine tasters are called?

    Wine tasters are often known as "sommeliers" or "wine connoisseurs." These experts are skilled in evaluating wines, comprehending their qualities, and recommending matches.

6. Do you actually drink the a wine at a wine tasting session?

    Yes, it is common to taste and evaluate little amounts of wine during a wine tasting. It is not about drinking a whole glass of wine, but rather about tasting and analysing its qualities and quality.

7. What are 5 Tips for wine tasting?

   See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, and Savour are the five S's of wine tasting. In this essay, I'll explain how to take these actions and why they'll help you improve your wine tasting taste.

   Explore more wine tasting related blogs Here!