Some Background Before Starting

Tasting wine is much more than sampling a beverage; it is a discovery process. Wine tasters are typically adventurous by nature. By adopting attitudes of moderation versus over-indulgence, wine enthusiasts take pleasure in discerning subtle nuances that are unique to each wine. Since wine tasting invokes all five of our senses, wine has the potential to bring back pleasant memories that we associate with different scents and flavors that are discovered in the wine. For example, richly oaked Cabernet Franc may have smokiness on the nose that reminds us of an outdoor campfire from pleasant childhood memories.

It is both beverage and food at the same time.  Since wine is made with yeast and other organic material, it evolves over time - even after it has been bottled.  Wine making is a process handed down from thousands of years of humanity, yielding a historical property to it.  Each wine maker adds his or her own touches such that you will experience different characteristics in wines made from the same ingredients at different wineries.  Grapes grown in different regions around the world lend different characteristics to each varietal.   Sampling wines allows one to experience the fruits of many regions and the craft of thousands of wine artisans all over the world.

Wine comes in many different forms, the most common of which is grape wines.  The grapes used for wine making come in several varieties (or varietals).  The name of the grape is often listed on the label of grape wines.  Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir are examples of red wine varieties; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) are examples of white wine varietals. 

Each varietal has its own unique characteristics, and new wines can be made by blending these different grapes before fermentation.  Bordeaux wine is an excellent example of a kind of wine made from blending many different red wine grapes.  Wineries that use proprietary blends of these varietals often have unique names for the wine.  Since the usual varietal is not listed on the label for custom blends, customers should approach these with an open mind, free of preconceived notions. 

Tips on How to Sample Wines

1. Clear your mind and pallet of your favorite wines.  Wine sampling should not become comparing this wine to the one you're used to. It is important that you are in the moment when sampling wine.  If you miss this step, you will limit you wine experiences to only a small population of wines available from the four corners of the Earth.
2. Get your wine bottle to the correct temperature.  Reds are usually served room temperature and whites are usually chilled.
3. Open the bottle by either uncorking or removing the cap.  Packaging is not relevant to the quality of wine.  Screw caps actually provide a better seal than most corks.  Synthetic corks arguably provide superior protection for the wine than natural corks.  There are also some great box wines!  Don't form opinions about the wine by the sealing method - winemakers choose their methods based on their own reasons.  Look at the cork (or cap) for obvious damage or irregularities.
4. Tip the wine glass at a bit of an angle to prevent the wine from splashing out, gently pour wine into the glass, and listen to the sound of it filling the glass.  Did you ever notice that hot water sounds different than cold water when poured into a vessel?  Note and appreciate the sound of wine pouring.  The glass should be no more than 1/3 to 1/2 full.  This rule is to be observed for tasting purposes. When restaurants (and others) pour a full glass, the expectation is that you are consuming wine for purposes other than sampling all of the wine's properties, e.g.,as an accompaniment to a meal or to enjoy a full glass of a wine that you enjoy.
5. Sight Take a good look at the wine and notice it's visual characteristics. 
   • What color do you notice? Look beyond red, white or blush. For example, is the red wine maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red or even brownish? Is the white wine clear, straw-like, golden, light green, pale yellow or brown in appearance?
   • Move on to the wine's opacity. Is the wine clear, cloudy, transparent or opaque? Tilt your glass a bit, give it a little swirl - look again, you are looking at color, clarity, brilliance (sounds like you're finding the perfect diamond!) - is there sediment, bits of cork or any other floating bits? An older red wine will be more translucent than younger red wines.
     • If the wine appears cloudy, it does NOT mean the wine is bad.  When big, commercial wineries filter their wine for appearance, the filtration process often removes flavors and other subtle nuances.  You can pour a cloudy wine into a decanter, wait a few hours for the particles to settle to the bottom.  You may be surprised to find a nice wine!
   • Gently swirl the glass in a small circle so that the wine comes to within 1 inch or so from the rim of the glass.  Notice that as the wine settles after you stop swirling, the residual wine on the inside walls of the glass will run down in small streams, or "legs".  The more "leg" a wine has the more body it will have.  Younger wines and lighter wines usually very little "leg".  Try it!
6. Smell The way a wine smells is referred to as the Nose.  Using your sense of smell will both enhance your tasting experience in general and it will help you to discover many of the wine's subtleties.
   • Begin by gently swirling your glass (this will enhance the wine's natural aromas) and then take a quick whiff to gain a first impression.  Any unpleasant odors, e.g. strong vinegar, should alert you to examine the wine before consuming it. 
   • After your first impression, stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose.  What are your second impressions? Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine's aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics. Gently swirl the wine and let the aromas mix and mingle, and sniff again.
   • If you're with friends, discuss what you notice.  Can you refine the nose?  Do you detect coffee, smoke, leather?  If you notice a citrus fruit, what kind of fruit or berry is it?
7. Taste There are three stages of taste. More complex wines will taste different or offer new subtleties as one progresses through the three stages. The flavor of the wine will actually change as it progresses from the tip of the tongue, across the mid-section, back of tongue and after it has been swallowed.
   • Initial Taste - Start with a small sip and let it roll around your tongue.  Observe what you notice right away.  Is it sweet or dry?  Do you taste grapes, berries, oak, etc.?
   • Overall Taste - After gathering your initial impression of the wine, allow a small breath of air in through your lips and allow the wine to mingle with the air. What do you taste? Reds will often have berry, woody and bell pepper tastes. White wines will often have apple, floral or citrus flavors associated with them.
   • Finish - The wine's finish is how long the flavor lasts after it is swallowed. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like water) or full-bodied (like the consistency of milk)?
8. Feel Some wines will have a more pleasant "mouth-feel" than others. 
• Lighter wines will have less mouth-feel, and the finish will be shorter.  Heavy complex wines may coat your pallet and give an experience like heavy whipping cream.
• If you feel a "burn" after swallowing the wine, it has more alcohol content.  People refer to the alcohol content as the wine's Heat.
• If wine has a high sulfite (or preservative) level, it can impart a harshness to the wine's taste / feel.
9. Sound Wine is an excellent community beverage.  Many new friendships are made in the company of other wine drinkers.  As you sample the wines, listen to others' conversations, hear the sounds of glasses and bottles clinking, hear the laughter in the room and experience the vibrancy of life itself. 

FAQ's

• What should I do if I don't like a certain wine sample?  It's customary and expected that not everyone will like the same wines.  There is often a container provided for you to dump your wine into for disposal.  Maintain decorum and keep negative comments to a minimum.
• Why do some people seem to dump every sample of wine they try?  Some people want to savor the wine tasting experience without getting intoxicated.  This allows them to sample more wines in a short period of time while minimizing the effects of alcohol on the body.
• Are white wines sweeter than red wines?  Not necessarily.  Don't be afraid to sample both whites and reds.  Many people fall into the trap of drinking only reds or whites.  In our winery, for example, our Chardonnay is very dry.  We have seen many red wine drinkers buy a bottle of our Chardonnay because it is dryer than most other white wines.
• When should I chill wine?  Typically, reds are served at room temperature, and whites are chilled.  Try an experiment and pour two glasses of a red and two glasses of a white.  Chill a glass of the red and a glass of the white.  After 15 or 20 minutes, sample the wines.  Take note of any differences.  We found that chilling a red removes some of the complexity, and chilling a white actually gives it more flavor.
• I usually buy wine with the boldest label in the supermarket.  How can I find a good wine? Wine marketers competing for shelf space in a supermarket are developing great new labels, and they're often good wines.  However, if you're looking for your next favorite wine you're better off investing a little time discovering the wine that's right for you.  Look for local wine tasting events (call us if you want help with this), and become an active participant in the wine tasting.  Ask questions and don't feel embarrassed - if you're paying for a wine sampling, you should be able to receive help selecting a good wine.   The person conducting the event should be able to steer you to something that will suit you pallet.  After you found some wines you like - explore and discover new wines.  Remember the whole world is out there waiting for you to discover it.
• What is a Blush? Red wine gets is color from the grape skins.  A blush is created when the grape skins are removed from the must after only a brief period of time.  A Blush is not necessarily an indicator of sweetness, quality, etc.  I once experienced a blush cabernet franc that was dry, full-bodied and complex.
• What is Table Wine? Table wine is typically what most people buy when they buy a bottle of wine.  Table wines are grape wines with net alcohol contents between 7% and 14& alcohol.
• What is Port Wine? Port wines are wines with alcohol content greater than 14% and less than 24%.  Traditional Ports are fermented until they are only 7% alcohol, then 77% (or 154 proof) Brandy is mixed into the must.  The result is a sweeter wine (because only half of the sugar content was converted into alcohol) that is around 18 to 21% alcohol.  Introducing the Brandy immediately stops fermentation because most yeast cannot survive at higher alcohol levels.  One can make a non-traditional port using special yeast strains that can survive in up to 20% alcohol.  Port wines have long-standing traditions,  passed down several hundred years.  Do a little research on the Internet to discover the world of Ports.

Final Note: Sampling wine is about being in the moment and experiencing the wonders of what the Earth has to offer.  You won't find the meaning of life in the bottom of a glass, so don't seek it there.  Maybe - just maybe - you can feel the pulse of life as all of your 5 senses are awakened.