Chapter 2: Tasting Wine
Tasting Wine
Wine tasting does not just involve your sense of taste; it also involves sight, smell, and touch.
Look at the Wine
Hold your glass up to the light. Color can vary substantially, even within the same varietal. Reds range in color from pale red to dark brown. Generally speaking, a paler wine has a lighter body, while a darker wine is more full-bodied. White wines appear golden, sometimes with elegant green tints. Swirl the wine in your glass to check the body. If you notice "thin legs", you're looking at a wine with a higher alcohol content.
Smell the Wine
When you swirl wine in the glass, the agitated molecules release the aroma. Take a quick whiff for an initial impression. Then smell more deeply and slowly. Concentrate on what you have just smelled. You might notice flowers, fruit, an earthy scent, or an oaky aroma.
Taste the Wine
Do you taste fruit, oak, acid, tannins? Look for these characteristics in the wine. After you swallow, consider the taste. Does it go away quickly or does it linger? Is it acidic or sweet? This can be difficult at first, but more practice helps distinguish the different qualities of individual wines.
Evaluate the Wine
An outstanding wine will have a wonderful balance of all these elements-appearance, smell, taste, and feel. Remember that there are individual wines to suit many different occasions. A rich, complex wine may be paired with a gourmet meal, while a simpler wine can be perfect for a casual get-together with friends. Trust your instincts-the only thing that really matters is that you enjoy the wine!
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