Tasting a wine

I wrote this as part of an article on the wine basics last month. Just some basic guidelines to getting the most out of a glass of your favorite wine.

1. First, observe the wine in the glass. Hold it up to a light background and note the color and opacity, or how much light it lets through. Wines should be bright and radiant when they are young, not cloudy. Older red wines will show off less of a brilliant color and darker edges (being the area where the wine and glass meet). White wines that appear brown and lifeless may be “corked,” a term that refers to a wine that has been exposed to excessive heat or air in the bottle and has completely oxidized, meaning all of the sugars and alcohol have been broken down into vinegar. Observe the texture of the wine in the glass.

2. Swirl the wine in the glass for a few seconds to allow it to “open” up. Swirling also allows the tannins in the wine time to breathe or aerate. (Tannins are a polyphenol component of red wines that come from grape skins and seeds as well as oak barrels. They are responsible for that bitter taste you get in red wines. Allowing them time to “open up” will expose them to air, leading to the breakdown of some of the rough tannins and a smoother, creamy tasting wine). As the wine “opens up” it will also expose the underlying fruits and spices. Red wine, which is full of tannins, will usually take longer than white wine to reach its full potential. Younger wines may also need more air exposure to really show their potential, as the tannins in these wines have not had time to develop.

3. Smell the wine. Place your nose just inside the top of the glass and breathe in slowly. From the scent you will get a good idea of what to expect from the flavor of the wine. An aroma of wet cardboard indicates that the wine may be corked. If the wine smells OK, note any fruits, spices, or unique aromas. Is there a lot of alcohol scent? Give the wine another swirl then smell it again. Did anything change?

4. Finally, taste the wine. Take a sip of the wine and allow it to fill your entire mouth. Give it a swish around and breathe in a little air over the wine. Try to pick out particular flavors, noting the acidity, level of alcohol, and any other unique qualities. Once you swallow the wine, observe how long the wine sticks around on your palette, as well as how dry it makes your mouth feel (a result of the tannin content). Note how long the flavors of the wine stayed on your palette, as well as any flavors that emerge or disappear. This is called the “finish” and is often one of the more interesting and exciting parts of the wine.

You can make this process last from seconds to minutes, or longer. Just have some fun with it and keep an open mind. I recommend keeping a journal of the wines you try in order for long-term comparison and to begin to develop the types of wines, the vintages, and the regions you like the best. If you had a wine with dinner or any meal, be sure to note how well the wine and food paired together. And don’t forget, if you have a great wine…post it in the forums so we all can enjoy it!