Wine tasting is a fascinating sensory experience that engages the senses of sight, smell, and taste. It is an art form that takes time, patience, and practice to master. Whether you are a connoisseur or a novice looking to expand your palate, this elaborate guide to wine tasting will help you explore the nuances of wine.
Sight: The Art of Observation
The first basic sense we use to evaluate wine is our sense of sight. The appearance of wine can provide valuable information about its age, grape varietal, and winemaking techniques. When examining the wine's color, you can learn about its depth, hue, and intensity. A young wine tends to be lighter and more vibrant, while an aged one will have a deeper, richer color. When inspecting wine, it's essential to hold it up to the light to observe its clarity and brilliance. The viscosity of the wine can give you an idea of the alcohol content present. Give your glass a swirl; as the wine drips down the sides of the glass, it will leave behind "legs". The slower the wine flows down the side of the glass, the more viscous it is, symbolizing higher alcohol content.
Marichel Vineyard offers a range of exquisite wines, including popular Syrah wines, which boast an intense deep red hue. The Lone Wolf Syrah is a blend of clone 7 on 3309 with deep, rich color and an intense and complex flavor profile. In contrast, the unoaked Chardonnay usually has a pale, straw-like color, which is typical for an unwooded Chardonnay. Its color indicates that the wine is light and crisp, with a fruity aroma.
Smell: The Aroma of Wine
The next step in wine tasting is to smell the wine. It is where the wine's aroma comes into play, indicating its flavors and complexity. The technique involves tilting, bringing the glass up to the nose, and analyzing the smell. The aroma of wine can be fruity, floral, herbal, or spicy, depending on the grape varietal and winemaking methods used. By sniffing the wine, you can detect its aroma and discern whether it is well-balanced, complex, and inviting.
As wine ages in the bottle, it continues to change. A young wine mainly presents more fruit on the nose than an older bottle, which exhibits more concentrated and earthy components. Smelling the wine offers plenty of hints of flavor, allowing you to move on to the most exciting part of the process, tasting.
Taste: The Sensation of Flavor
It's time to finally take a sip and use the sense of taste to evaluate the wine's flavor. A wine's flavor combines sweetness, acidity, tannins, and alcohol. The wine's acidity gives it a crisp, refreshing taste, while the tannin adds structure and complexity to the wine. In addition, the alcohol content affects the overall taste, wines with higher alcohol content are usually more viscous and feel heavier. Keeping all aspects in mind as you sip through, you will ascertain a deeper understanding of wine's complexity and ultimately make it a more enjoyable process.
Wine Tasting Tips
Now that you are well-versed in the key elements of wine tasting, here are a few tips to make the most out of this experience:
- Take Your Time: Wine tasting is an art form that requires patience and concentration. Take your time to observe, smell, and taste the wine, and don't rush through the process.
- Use Your Senses: When tasting wine, use all of your senses to fully experience the wine. Observe its appearance, smell its aromas, and taste its flavors.
- Take Notes: To help you remember the different wines you've tried and their unique characteristics, take notes on the wine's appearance, aroma, and taste.
- Pair with Food: Wine and food are a match made in heaven, so try pairing different wines with different foods to enhance their flavors. Our 2020 Elisabeth Viognier tastes magical with seafood and pasta.
- Have Fun: Wine tasting is meant to be an enjoyable and fun experience, so don't take it too seriously! Instead, experiment with different wines and flavors, and discover what you love.
Key Takeaway
Wine tasting is a great way to explore the world of wine and discover new flavors and sensations. By using your senses of sight, smell, and taste, you can explore the complexities of different wines and discover your preferences.
Marichel Vineyard offers a quintessential range of wines that showcase the best of Canadian winemaking. From our bold and robust Syrah to the light and crisp Chardonnay, Marichel Vineyard has something for everyone. Beyond being simply enjoyable, wine tasting is like putting a puzzle together, which makes it a wonderful experience. So, grab a glass of your favorite Marichel Vineyard wine, and let your senses take you on a journey of discovery. Cheers!