Wine Drinking/Wine Lover vs. Wine Tasting...
As a new wine importer and distributor, the reason I chose the business is because I really love wine. So, learning the ropes on the business itself was one thing, but learning to actually taste wines was a totally new and strange! Choosing wines to import and making tasting notes has not been easy for this wine lover! So let's dive into wine tasting.
We need Structure in our lives, and our wine
When tasting wines it's about understanding wine structure this refers to five areas. Sweetness, Acidity, Body, Alcohol and Tannins. Sounds simple enough...
Sweetness
First things first, since most of of are born loving sweets this is the easier of the things to pick out! Sweetness refers to the perception of sugar in the wine. It is a very important part that influences the wine's taste and balance. Wine sweetness can be put into three categories: Dry, Off-Dry and Sweet. Dry wines have little to no residual sugar. Most of the sugar from the grapes has been fermented into alcohol leaving a crisp and refreshing feeling in your mouth. Off-dry wines have just a smidge or hint of residual sugar, but not overly sweet. They have a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity. Sweet wines have a noticeable amount of residual sugar giving it a sweet taste. Feeling a little "syrupy" in your mouth.
Acidity
The acidity is a vital part of the wine. The acidity gives freshness and liveliness to the wine. It is that sharp or tangy sensations you feel on the sides of your tongue. Acidity is naturally present in grapes and is preserved in the wine making processes. High acid wines tend to be crisp, zesty or vibrant making them enjoyable with a lot of different foods and they tend to age well. Lower acid wines tend to be described at flat or lackluster. The different varietals of grapes and growing conditions influences the level of acid in the wine.
Body
This category gets a little tricky in picking out. This is a perceived feeling on the palate. It refers to the weight, richness and fullness of the wine. The body of wine is due to alcohol level, residual sugar, tannins and glycerol. There are three levels. Light bodied wine is thin, delicate, lower alcohol content with less pronounced flavors. The feel in your mouth could be compared to skim milk. Medium bodied wine is a balance between lightness and richness. The feel in your mouth could be compared to whole milk. Full bodied wine often have higher alcohol content and feel substantial with intense flavors. The feel in your mouth could be compared to heavy cream.
Alcohol
Most of us a aware of the ABV % in wine, but how do they get that? Alcohol in wine is a byproduct of the fermentation. Yeast, added to the juice, converts the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Alcohol affects texture, weight, sweetness and contributes to the warmth. Balancing alcohol with other structural components is essential to achieve a delicious wine.
Tannins
Last but certainly not least, the tannins. Tannins are compounds found in grape skins, seeds and stems. They are also present in oak barrels used in aging wines. Tannins contribute to a wines structure, texture and aging potential. In the mouth, tannins create a drying feeling. This component is important when paring food, particularly with rich, fatty dishes. The astringency of the tannins can assist in clearing (cleansing) the palate.
Now it's time to get tasting you wine lovers!!
Now that you know what structure is, it's time for tasting! Use your eyes first.. notice the color. Then "nose" the wine, literally give a bit of a swirl and stick your nose in the glass. What do you smell? Fruit, flowers?Smoke? Now taking a sip, do not swallow and introduce some air in your mouth and lightly swish. What flavors do you taste? Depending on wine is it red fruit, peaches, cherries? Maybe a hint of fresh cut grass? I try to be quiet during this process for others. I think they can be drinking the same wine, but their smell and taste could be a little different than mine and I am not really good at putting it into words! While I do not spit out that sip, when doing a large tasting, it is best to dump the rest. Sip a little water and move to next wine! Or, just try this exercise and then enjoy the wine.
Cheers to you wine lover!!
You are now ready to take your love for wine to the next level!! For more how to, I have to share this video from Wine Folly. It's worth the watch, too funny! She makes it look even easier!
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