The goal of the Wine Revealed Series is to demystify wines and make wine enjoyment more accessible to wine drinkers… both novice and seasoned.
We’re dedicated to continuing what we started with the docuseries by continually providing articles that look more deeply into the many aspects of enjoying the amazing wines of the world. We invite you to leave comments below with any questions you may have or topics you would like to see us cover!
Let’s start with something that mystifies so many novice wine drinkers… what to look for when tasting wine…
That sparkle of color when a glass is held up to the light, the aromas the emanate upward from the glass, the tingle of acidity and the complexity of fruit, oak, and minerals… all of these experiences are part of drinking wine.
The romance and appeal of wine is clear – it suggests celebratory occasions, fine foods, good company, and convivial conversations. But wine can be intimidating for many people.
We’ve all seen wine experts swirl, smell, and taste, and we’re not sure exactly what they’re looking for. When a waiter opens a bottle at tableside for us, we awkwardly take a sip and nod to him that it’s fine… and we wish we had something intelligent to say about the wine.
Fortunately, the average person does not need to be a wine expert to thoroughly enjoy wine and develop informed opinions – far from it!
Marco Stevanonni is a wine expert and the owner of Veneto Restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a familiar face to Wine Revealed viewers, and he has a talent for demystifying wine and inviting wine novices to dive in and fully enjoy the world’s most exquisite and fascinating beverage.
Marco explains that tasting wine is a three-part process, and points out that the first step is to look at the color and the light. He adds, “Then I smell it and want to pick out one or two flavors that stand out.”
Finally, taste and swoosh it around in your mouth to see the reactions. “So, I go eyes, nose, and mouth,” Marco continues.
So what is Marco looking for when he looks at the color of a wine? A wine expert will compare the color seen to his or her knowledge of what wines from that particular grape or style characteristically look like. As you develop favorite wines and return to certain wine styles that appeal to you, this exercise will become more interesting.
Until then, let your observation of the wine be a completely subjective experience of the senses. Wine colors are beautiful and varied across a wide range of colors, so think about what the wine color in your glass reminds you of – amber, ruby, gold, or…? Try to put a name to what you are seeing!
The next sense to get into the game is the sense of smell. Gently swirl the wine to release aromas. Just like color, the fragrances can vary across a spectrum from delicate and elegant to pungent and powerful.
Says Jack Smithson of Winerist, “50% of taste comes from the smell, and a large amount of satisfaction can be gained from smelling a wine before you drink it.” Don’t miss out on this critical sensory experience!
You should be able to pick up on the primary fruit and floral scent of the wine. You may also pick up secondary scents of oak, which may smell like vanilla, leather, or even coconut. Remember what you smelled for later comparison when tasting.
Finally, it’s time to taste! Marco explains that the mouth is full of taste buds and quickly reacts to flavors. For wine tasting purposes, there are three important parts of the mouth, the first being the lips and tip of the tongue. This tastes for temperature and initial flavor, and is where you gather your initial impressions of body and texture.
Next, the mid-palate is where the flavors start to open up and you get the fruits, sugars, and tannins. Carefully note what fruits you are tasting — how do they compare with the aromas you noted earlier? Where on the sweet to dry continuum would you place this wine, and how does that compare to what you smelled? Tannins give wine an astringent quality that mellows with age, and they tend to give wine structure and balance. They may impart a dry-mouth effect or bitterness, so note how they taste on your tongue.
Finally, Marco elaborates on the back palate which tests for acidity and the finish. The farther the finish goes down your throat, the better the wine is. Acidity is what gives wines a fresh flavor and helps to balance out tannins – how does the wine you are tasting balance out, in your opinion? What flavors remain on your back palate after you have swallowed, and how long do they last?
Savor the wine in your mouth and let all the flavors develop, noting how they compare to the aromas you smelled earlier. Often the primary flavor you note is fruit, and after a moment, secondary flavors will be identifiable – see if you can name them!
Remember that wine tasting can be very subjective, and your experience may not be the same as the person sitting next to you or the wine expert on TV. We all have individual tastes, and they are worth paying attention to in order to enhance your enjoyment and increase your knowledge of the world’s favorite elixir!