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The Art of Wine Appreciation

Whether you are a novice or a long time wine connoisseur, wine tasting can be a fun way to spend an afternoon enhancing your knowledge about wine. Here are a few simple techniques that will assist you in gaining a more pleasurable and memorable experience.

Take a Look
Grasp the glass by the stem so that you are careful not to warm the wine with your hands. Look at the wine against a white background. A white tablecloth is perfect. Is the wine clear, absent of haze or particles? (Some particles of cork, or small crystals called tartrates that form when wine is chilled, are not considered flaws and are safe to drink.) Is the wine’s color intensity bright or muted? What is the actual color of the wine?

Swirl & Sniff
Gently swirl the wine around the glass to release the subtle aromas. Two or three swirls are sufficient. Then, place your nose into the top of the glass and breathe deeply. Close your eyes and concentrate on what you are smelling. Is it fruity, like pears, apples, or berries? Are there hints of flowers, like violets or roses, or maybe tobacco, chocolate and mushrooms?

Take a Sip
This is the really fun part. Take a sip of wine. How does it feel in your mouth; light bodied or full bodied? Is it sweet or dry, smooth or tannic, simple or complex? What are the flavors you taste; spice, fruit, grass, pepper or vanilla?

Swallow or Spit
As the wine is swallowed or spit out into a spit bucket, notice if you are left with astringency, a dryness in the mouth like when you drink strong tea. This is called tannin. Also, notice the aftertaste; does it linger in your mouth or is it over quickly? This is the finish of the wine. Consider your overall impression of the wine: pleasant, intense, well-balanced, memorable, long lasting?

Wine Aromas & Flavors

When wine tasting, can you recognize any of these unique aromas and flavors?

Red Wine Aromas & Flavors

• Butter/butterscotch
• Candied or fermented dark ripe fruit
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Cola, root beer
• Dark ripe fruit: black cherries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, raisins, currants
• Earth/damp earth
• Herbs: menthol, mint, licorice, fennel, anise, grass
• Leather/suede
• Minerals: petroleum, talc, slate
• Smoke
• Spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg
• Vanilla
• Wood: oak, cedar, pine, eucalyptus, lead pencil

White Wine Aromas & Flavors

• Butter/butterscotch
• Candied/fermented fruit
• Cream
• Floral: gardenia, jasmine, rose, lavender, chamomile
• Honey
• Minerals: talc, slate, petroleum
• Nuts, almonds, almond blossoms
• Oak
• Smoke
• Stone fruit: peach, nectarine, apricot
• Tart or ripe fruit: melon, apple, pear, pineapple, lemon, lime, grapefruit
• Tropical/exotic fruit: gooseberry, guava, quince, papaya, mango, litchi
• Vanilla
  
  
  
• Information is subject to change.