Week 7: How to Properly Taste Wine (Mastering the Art of Wine Sensory Evaluation)

Welcome back, wine enthusiasts! We've journeyed through the fundamentals of wine, explored white and red varieties, delved into food pairings, compared Old World and New World styles, and even peeked into the world of wine aging. Now, it's time to sharpen our senses and dive deep into the art of wine tasting.

The Four Pillars of Wine Tasting

Let's break down the sensory evaluation process into four key elements:

1. Appearance

Before we even lift the glass to our nose, we can learn a lot from a wine's appearance:

• Color: Is it pale straw, deep gold, purple-tinged, or brick red?
• Clarity: Is it clear and bright, or hazy?
• Viscosity: How do the "legs" or "tears" form on the glass?

These visual cues can hint at the wine's age, grape variety, and even winemaking techniques.

2. Aroma (Nose)

Now, let's awaken our olfactory senses:

• Primary aromas: These come directly from the grape and can include fruit, floral, and herbal notes.
• Secondary aromas: Derived from fermentation, think yeasty or buttery scents.
• Tertiary aromas: Developed through aging, like leather, tobacco, or nuts.

Remember those Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon profiles we discussed in Weeks 2 and 3? Now's the time to put that knowledge to use!

3. Taste (Palate)

As we sip, we're looking for:

• Sweetness: Is it bone-dry or dessert-level sweet?
• Acidity: Does it make your mouth water?
• Tannins (in red wines): Do you feel a drying sensation on your gums?
• Alcohol: Can you sense the warmth?
• Body: Does it feel light like skim milk or full like cream?

4. Structure and Finish

Finally, we evaluate how these elements come together:

• Balance: Do all components harmonize, or does one overpower?
• Complexity: Are there layers of flavors, or is it straightforward?
• Length: How long do the flavors linger after swallowing?

Honing Your Tasting Skills

Developing a discerning palate takes practice. Here are some tips:

1. Use an aroma kit: Train your nose to recognize different scents.
2. Keep a tasting journal: Document your experiences to track your progress.
3. Compare wines side by side: This helps highlight subtle differences.
4. Taste regularly: The more you practice, the better you'll become.

The Art of Blind Tasting

Now, let's talk about one of the most exciting challenges in the wine world: blind tasting.

What is Blind Tasting?

Blind tasting involves evaluating a wine without knowing its identity. It's not just a party trick – it's a crucial skill for wine professionals.

The Deductive Tasting Method

Sommeliers use a systematic approach:

1. Sight: Analyze the appearance
2. Nose: Identify aromas
3. Palate: Assess flavors and structure
4. Initial Conclusion: Make an educated guess about the wine
5. Final Conclusion: Refine the guess based on additional contemplation

Why Blind Tasting Matters

Blind tasting is more than just a fun challenge:

• It eliminates bias from labels or prices
• It keeps tasting skills sharp
• It's crucial for quality control in wineries
• It's used in competitions and sommelier certifications

Remember our discussion on Old World vs. New World wines in Week 5? Blind tasting is where that knowledge really shines!

Try It at Home!

Want to test your skills? Here are some fun blind tasting games:

1. Old World vs. New World: Can you tell a French Syrah from an Australian Shiraz?
2. Varietal Guessing Game: Identify the grape variety in a single-varietal wine.
3. Vintage Challenge: Try to guess the age of the wine.

Wrapping Up

Sensory evaluation is the culmination of everything we've learned so far. It's where science meets art, where knowledge meets intuition. As you practice, you'll find yourself appreciating the nuances in that glass of Bordeaux or Napa Cabernet like never before.

Remember, the goal isn't to become a wine snob, but to enhance your enjoyment of wine. So keep swirling, sniffing, and sipping – your wine journey is just beginning!

Next week, we'll explore how all these elements come together in specific wine regions. Get ready to travel the world through your glass!

Cheers until then!