Tasting Tips

 Tasting  Tips 

Here are some basic steps will make you wine-tasting experience more enjoyable.  Although there is food at this event, we recommend that guests remember to eat lunch so they do not begin the tasting on an empty stomach. Your program will have a list of wines at each table. Although the table will be numbered and listed by distributor, you can taste wines at any table in any order you choose.

This is a great opportunity to taste a lot of great different wine and find out what suits your pallet best.  There are so many wines that you will not be able to taste them all. Our servers will pour less so that you can taste a more wines. 

Where to start? Wine tasting is a full sensory evaluation of wine. Tasters can enhance their experience by not only considering taste, but the aromas, color, clarity and dryness or sweetness of he wine.  It is important to remember that when multiple wines are being tasted in a relatively short period of time, that they are tasted in the proper sequence.  White wines first, then light reds, medium-body reds, heavier reds and dessert or sweeter wines last. 



Examine Color.  When your wine is poured, lift the glass by the stem and at about arm's length, hold the glass at a 45-degree angle.  Try to use a good light source or a white background as your backdrop.  Study the color and clarity of the wine.  While you may think that wines are either red, white or pink, closer examination will tell you otherwise.  White wines may have green, gold, or straw-colored tint, while reds can be red,, purple or even black.

Release Bouquet.  Bringing the glass back to a level position, gently swirl the wine so that the bowl of the glass is coated with the wine.  In doing so , air will hit a larger surface area of the wine, which will release the wine's bouquet.

Identify Aroma. Bring the glass to a position beneath your nose, and inhale deeply.  The bouquet that is released by the swirling will now begin to give you some of the wine's characteristics.  Savor the bouquet for a few moments and then inhale again.  You may get aromas that will complement the taste of the wine, while in other cases, the aromas and flavors vary greatly.  In white wines, you may get the aromas of vanilla, apple, pear, melon or spice.  In reds, it may be berries, chocolate, leather or pepper.  This step will teach you more about the complexities of wine.

Evaluate Taste.  Finally, taste the wine.  But caution yourself not to let the wine past the taste buds too fast.  Take a small sip of wine and hold it for a few seconds in the front of your mouth. Take a slight amount of air and roll the wine in your mouth. Let the wine sit on the back of your tongue before swallowing. This will give you several different chances to evaluate the fruit, balance and aftertaste of the wine.