Understanding The Basics Of Wine Tasting
If you struggle to tell the difference between a full-bodied Zinfandel and a light Pinot Noir - or even the difference between reds and whites - you’re not alone. Everyone starts somewhere when learning wine tasting basics, and even if you don’t have the most sophisticated palette, with a little guidance and an understanding of the basics, you’ll be able to impress others and yourself with your new-found knowledge.
We’ll be exploring the wine tasting basics that you need to know, from varieties and regions, to the visual, aroma, and palate analysis, and the key terms to describe what it is that you’re seeing, smelling, and tasting.
Wine Tasting Basics
Wines are typically grouped into four categories, three of which are based on colour - red, white, and rosé being the most common - as well as sparkling wine. Within each of these categories, different grape varieties produce wines with distinct flavours and characteristics, with popular examples include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The region where grapes are grown can significantly influence the taste of the wine, with factors such as climate, soil, and altitude playing a crucial role, which is why many wines are defined by where they come from. A popular example is wine from Champagne, which is frequently misused as an umbrella term for all sparkling wines including Prosecco.
Examining Wine
Although taste is a key component of wine tasting - hence why it is in the name - when wine tasting, multiple senses are used. First, the wine is examined by eye, then by the nose, and finally by its taste.
Sight
When assessing a wine, colour is the first thing to look for. Depending on the amount of light that comes through will reflect the body of the wine, and this can appear light, medium, or deep and full-bodied. Clarity can be examined by checking for sediment or cloudiness, and whether the wine is transparent or slightly hazy. More pronounced haziness could signify spoilage, whereas clear or dull wines are typically fine to drink. Finally, the legs of a wine can be examined by swirling the glass gently. Thanks to the Marangoni effect, you can observe the tears or droplets that flow down the side of the glass. High alcohol wines have a higher density of droplets compared to lower alcohol wines, and sweeter wines are typically more viscous.
Aroma
By gently swirling a glass by its stem, you’ll introduce more oxygen to the wine, which accentuates the aroma or bouquet of the wine. By inhaling, you might be able to detect hints of specific aromas, such as fruit, flowers, spices, herbs, earth, tobacco, chocolate or oak. Wines aren’t made or infused with these flavours, however as wine ages, chemical reactions in the acids, sugars, alcohols and phenolic compounds contribute to a wine’s bouquet. Understanding wine aromas are key in wine tasting, as smell plays such a big part of taste.
Palate
To taste wine, you begin by taking a small sip and letting the wine coat your palate. Then you observe the flavours of the wine, as well as other components such as acidity, tannins, sweetness, and body. After this, you can examine the finish based on how long the flavours linger on your palate.
Key Tasting Terms
- Acidity - The tart or tangy sensation in a wine, often described as "bright" or "crisp."
- Tannins - The astringent compounds found in red wines, particularly those aged in oak.
- Sweetness - The level of sugar in a wine, which ranges from dry to sweet.
- Body - The perceived weight or fullness of a wine.
- Finish - The length of time the flavours of a wine linger on your palate.
For many wine drinkers, not understanding what you are meant to look for can prevent proper wine tasting. By learning wine tasting basics, practising the tasting process, and experimenting with different wines, you'll begin to develop your own unique palate, and an appreciation for the art and science that is behind it.
Why More Than Wine?
More Than Wine is an Australian wine retailer that offers wine enthusiasts a curated selection of exceptional Australian wines from award-winning renowned wineries to local wineries across Australia. We’re changing the way you buy wine, whether you’re buying a bottle or a crate at a time, or if you want a regular shipment of bottles to discover.
