Written by Let me take a minute and introduce my first guest blogger, Guillermo Bravo of Napa Wine Tours. I hope you’ll enjoy his post and please visit his blog for an insiders view of Napa.
Rules for Better Wine Tasting
A great wine tasting experience starts with finding a nice wine shop. Look for one that’s close and convenient to your everyday routine. You need a shop that you are comfortable stopping by on a regular basis. It’s the wine version of that great little bookshop you loved in college. Many upscale wine shops like to put in all kinds of flavor-destroying display lighting systems over their wine collection. You’re looking for something more down to earth, where you can gossip with the shopkeepers about such abominations. Once you think you’ve found the perfect shop, let them recommend a wine to you.
Request Wine Recommendations from the Wine Shop
Even if you’re well educated when it comes to wine, letting a shopkeeper recommend a new bottle to you is a great way to make a deep connection. You will learn something about their character, as well as their skill in choosing interesting wines. (Did they recommend something much too expensive? Did they take time with you to find out what your interests were? Or, were they pushing some kind of ‘special’ on you?) Also, accepting a wine recommendation is a great way to be remembered by the shopkeeper. Here’s the secret: Buy the wine. Take it home and return a few days later to discuss it.
You don’t have to lie and say it was the best wine you ever tasted, be honest. Have something interesting to say about your experience with the wine, and you’ll have an “in” for future goodies that come their way. Good shop, check. Good wine, check.
Picking a Wine Glass
Now, believe it or not, you need a good wine glass. The shape of the glass will shape your experience of the wine. Red wines are served in the larger glasses with a flatter, bowl-like shape. The design of the bowl helps you access the variety of rich characteristics in the aroma of a red. White wines, with their clarity and directness, are served in narrower glasses. The small glasses with the beautiful tulip-shaped flutes are reserved for champagne to preserve (and display) the bubbles.
Pre Tasting Process: Look, Swirl, and Smell
Your glass should only be 1/3 to ½ full, allowing you to experience the flavor and aromas of your wine. The basics are universal: we look, we swirl; we smell; we taste. Look at the wine through the side of the glass. It is more than just a “red” or a “white”. Is it garnet-red? A ruby, perhaps? Is your wine a pale ethereal white? Or golden amber? The depth of the color can tell you something about the age of the wine and lead your other senses for the wine tasting experience.
Swirl the wine gently in the glass, allowing it to gently mix with more oxygen and serve the more complicated undertones in the aroma. Swirl for about 10 seconds, then smell. Now, swirl again and smell again. You will notice the character of the aroma developing after time.
The Wine Tasting Process
Next, we begin wine tasting process. Take a slow sip and let it rest in your mouth at the tip of the tongue. Now, take the full sip in and breathe in a little sip of air. The air escapes through your nose. You experience the taste and the aroma as one composition. Relax and take some time in the experience. Think about what you’re sensing and absorb it. You can compliment your wine tasting experience by adding food. Food can bring out the flavor of a wine. Fruits, berries and cheeses work well, and can be recommended by your now favorite shopkeeper.
Keep a Wine Journal
Now for the homework, write about your experience. Keep your thoughts organized, so you can reference them anytime down the road. Learn to be specific. Record the type of wine, Pinot noir? Chardonnay? Cabernet? What flavors were present? Was it acidic? How were the tannins? What foods were paired with the wine? This is a key step in developing your skills in finding and experiencing truly remarkable wines. Also, continue to read about wine. Local shopkeepers and fellow wine fans will all have a title to recommend. Most local libraries will carry at least a selection to get you started. Reading will help you understand what you’ve experienced so far, as well as guide you on your next wine adventure.
If you’d like more wine tasting advice please visit our Napa Wine Blog. We have helpful wine reviews, recommended food pairings, winery reviews, and much more. Also, if you’re visiting Napa Valley, we have resources for private Napa Wine Tours during your stay.
