It’s no secret that wine is one of the best things that has ever happened to humans. Something as potent as a glass of wine can send you right to your happy place while making you feel divine, smart and intellectual and so much more at the same time!
But just like most other things in the world, wine isn’t a monolith. There are several kinds of them—red, white, and more! And developing a taste for them, training your palate to recognize their sweet arbor can be daunting prospect. Simple things such as choosing the right wine glass matter too!
And we’ve got some great tips if you’re seeking to refine your wine palate!
Take Notes
It’s easy to tell yourself what you’re feeling as you’re tasting the wine, but it’s also easy to forget all that you’d felt and tasted as soon as you move on to the next one. One great way to overcome this issue is by taking notes. You can start with the basics: what color is the wine, what could you smell, how it tasted, how acidic it was, how potent the finish was, so long and so forth. This will teach you how to differentiate between them all.
And don’t forget to note if you actually enjoyed it!
Do it with Friends!
Everything is automatically better when you’re with your friends. Plus, you can get a lot of second opinions when you do it with friends. This eliminates the need for second guessing and gives you a lot of insight in places where you wouldn’t expect it. They might notice an aroma or a flavor that you missed—and that’s always great!
Compare
Nothing is a better way to learn to taste than by comparison. Tasting each wine won’t tell you much unless you taste more than one wine in comparison. Don’t pour too much of them out. 3 oz will do. Take notes as you compare them. Make separate lists for similarities and differences. You can also compare by region, by grapes, and so on.
Swirl!
If you’ve seen any episode of Hannibal, you know that wine is meant to be swirled and smelt before it must be consumed. You’re training not just your taste buds but also your nose—and swirling mixes the wine with oxygen, which in turn unlocks several distinct aromas you wouldn’t have smelt otherwise!
Master your technique by going for small, delicate circles.
Practice!
Last but not the least, if you’re truly a wine aficionado, nothing will get the technique as deeply imbedded in your system as practicing. Do it again and again and do it as often as you can. If possible, go on a wine tasting and tour with friends. Try Artisan Excursion Wine Tours in Solvang to explore some of the finest vineyards and wineries in California. You’ll also get some great wine tasting expertise, and this is a great chance to learn from experts at their very own game! Connect with Artisan Excursion to schedule a tour today.