Wine tasting begins with the "5" S's
Developing your wine sense involves five basic steps;
See, Swirl, Smell, Sip and Savor. These steps will allow
you to further appreciate the complexities and differences
amongst varietals.
See – Begin by holding your glass of wine in front of you at
a 45 degree angle in front of a white background. You are
evaluating the visual appearance of the wine, its color and
hue. The color of the wine will give you an indication of its
age. As a rule of thumb, red wines lighten with age, while
white wines will darken. Also, each grape varietal will have
a different hue that you are looking for. For example;
chardonnay will be more golden in color, with Riesling a
greenish-yellow. Zinfandel will appear purplish,Cabernet Sauvignon more bluish-black in appearance.
Swirl – Swirling your wine will allow you to access its legs and will allow the bouquets of the wine to
“open”. Once you swirl your wine look for the dripping lines or legs that are formed as the wine falls back
down into your glass. The more legs you see, typically the higher its alcohol content. Also, by swirling
your wine, you will allow its bouquet and flavor molecules to “open.” Take in its bouquet by lifting your
glass to your nose.
Smell - The smell of a wine is referred to as its “nose”. You should smell
your wine several times, swirling each time to further release its bouquet. You
can use the following terms to describe a wines aroma; fruity, spicy, fcloral,
vegetal, and oaky (woody).
Sip - Finally, take a taste of your wine! Make sure that your entire tongue is
exposed to your wine. Swish and swirl the wine in your palate for several
seconds. How does the wine feel in your mouth? Is it sweet or dry? Is it
bitter? Does it feel heavy or light in your mouth? Do you taste the bouquets
you smelled? Remember, all of these questions are unue to you. You will
interpret and access the same wine different than the person next to you.
Savor – Now access the wine as a whole. Did it leave a pleasant taste in your
palate? Was it well balanced? Did it go down smooth or hard? Was it light,
medium or full bodied? What foods would it pair well with?
|
