It's always fun and informative to review the basics, so I thought I would prepare for the class with this blog.
SST. See - Smell - Taste.
Start by pouring wine into a clear wine glass. The ideal amount should be 5-6 ounces and the glass should be about one-third full. Never more than half full.
Now, tilt the glass and look at the wine. Hold it against a blank white sheet of paper to really examine the color and clarity.
Whites should be clear and light yellow to bright gold. Reds should be light red to dark purple.
Look for cloudiness, sediment and crystallization, which could signal flaws in the wine.
Beware of the color orange in both whites and reds. It's an indication of oxidation, or, that the wine is past its prime.
Next, swirl the wine in the glass to give it air, then stick your nose in the glass and smell the wine. Do this a couple of times and try to identify what your nose is experiencing.
Are you getting fruit, oak, minerality and spice? Those are good things
Are you getting wet cardboard, stewed prunes or manure? Not so good.
Finally, taste the wine. Take a good mouth full and swish it around all the surfaces of your mouth. Swallow the wine and enjoy the "finish" or the lingering aftertaste of the wine. How long does it last? Great wines have long finishes that can last up to a minute.
Tasting is the best way to learn about wine - what you like and what you don't. And it's fun!
Balaban's has wine tastings all the time. On Saturday from 1 - 3pm, we always taste two whites and two reds.
And it's complimentary.
Hope to see you here soon.
Tom
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