Wine is not meant for mere drinking. As a matter of fact, anyone can drink wine but to taste wine calls for expertise. A seasoned taster of wine will be able to recognize with ease the wine's distinct flavor and other characteristics.
If you are a beginner and interested to learn about tasting wines, the right thing to do would be to join a wine club. Most online wine clubs are quite inexpensive and surely a great way to explore and understand the growing range of wines available in the market.
You must learn to read a vintage chart to find out a really good old wine. Vintage charts are easy reference guides to let you know the various grades of wine like the excellent wine, the good wine and the not so good wine coming from various regions. You will have to learn more about vintages of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne and Port from these vintage charts.
A good wine tastes smooth and pleasant and leaves an agreeable taste in the mouth. Occasionally you may come across a wine that tastes somewhat bitter and unpleasant. That wine is evidently spoilt. The two major causes of wine getting tainted are cork influence and oxidation.
The color of wine varies sharply, even if they belong to the same type of wine. For example, white wines are not actually white but range from green to yellow to brown. Red wines are not just red; they range from a pale red to a deep brown red, usually becoming paler in color as they age. Swirling the wine allows you to observe the body of the wine. A thicker body indicates a higher alcohol content and sweetness level.
Take a quick whiff and form an initial impression, before you take a second deeper whiff. After you smell the wine, sit back and think deeply about the aroma. It may be difficult for a novice, but after acquiring adequate experience, you will be able to discern the similarities and differences of wines effortlessly.
Merely learning about the taste of wine will not do. You must learn the proper way to serve wine and know what types of wine glasses are suitable for what types of wine.
Serving wine may appear seemingly trivial and inconsequential issue. But serving wine in the manner prescribed can add class and grace to any occasion - be it a casual get-together or a more formal wine and dine party.
The temperature at which a wine is served can also influence the taste of wine. Serving wine cool may cover up some imperfections of a cheap wine. But a warmer wine temperature better indicates the wines characteristics-particularly an older or more expensive wine.
Decant the wine by pouring it into a decorative container before serving. Wine decanters facilitate the wine to breathe and may improve the flavor of older red wines. Still wines should be poured towards the centre of the glass, while sparkling wines should be poured against the side to preserve the bubbles. When pouring wine, fill the glass only up to two-thirds which will allow the guests to swirl the wine, smell the wine and check out the wine's "legs"
The types of wine glasses in which wines are served are as important as the wine serving temperatures. The three main types of wine glasses are: White wine glasses (tulip shaped), Red
wine glasses (more rounded and have a larger bowl), Sparkling wine flutes (tall and thin). At a dinner party, serve wine to the women and elderly guests first, then the men and finally your own glass.
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