Unique perspectives on wine tasting
Wine Master T. G. Shaw put forward a rather bold view many years ago. From forty years ago until now, he has always held a firm belief. In his opinion, wine tasting and all kinds of topics surrounding wine are actually a collection of words and deeds that don't match their claims, and can even be said to be full of fraud. His assertion was like a bombshell in the wine industry, triggering countless discussions. After all, wine tasting has always been regarded as an elegant art, and many enthusiasts are deeply involved in it. However, the master bluntly pointed out that there is a false side to it. Perhaps he saw that during the wine - tasting process, some people were making untrue evaluations and promotions under the guise of professionalism, which led him to have such a sharp view.
Steps for wine tasting
There is a natural and orderly process for tasting wine. This sequence is naturally formed during the process of the body's contact with the wine.
Step one: Raise your wine glass and focus on observing the appearance of the wine. This seemingly simple action is actually an important start to the wine-tasting journey. By observing the appearance characteristics of the wine, such as its color and transparency, we can initially get a general understanding of this bottle of wine. Wines of different vintages and varieties will have obvious differences in appearance. For example, young wines usually have a brighter and more vivid color, while older wines may present a deeper hue.
Step two: Slowly bring the wine glass close to your nose and allow your nose to fully take in the aroma wafting from the glass. The aroma of wine is an important part of its charm, containing a variety of complex scents such as fruit, floral, and spice notes. In this step, we need to pay close attention and distinguish the different layers and characteristics of the various aromas. Each aroma is like a unique note, together creating a wonderful symphony of the wine's fragrance.
Step 3: Bring the wine glass to your lips and take a sip of the wine in the glass. At the same time, fully experience all the real sensations the wine brings. This is the real beginning of wine tasting. When the wine enters your mouth, you can feel its texture. Is it mellow or refreshing, dry or sweet? Meanwhile, you can also savor the aftertaste of the wine in your mouth. Generally speaking, wines with a long - lasting aftertaste are of better quality.
Step 4: "Conclusion". This step involves summarizing all the feelings and impressions and making a final verdict on the wine. We need to integrate the information obtained through vision, smell, and taste in the previous steps to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this bottle of wine. Whether it meets our expectations and whether it has unique flavors and qualities will all be finally judged in this step.
Precautions before wine tasting
Before starting to taste wine, there are several key points that we need to pay attention to.
First of all, choose appropriate wine glasses. The right wine glasses are crucial for the accuracy of wine tasting. Wine glasses of different shapes and sizes can affect the judgment of a wine's appearance and the identification of its aroma. For example, the design of some wine glasses can better concentrate the wine's aroma, allowing us to smell the various scents in it more clearly.
Next, let's talk about the light source and white background objects. Natural sunlight is the best light source because artificial light sources may affect the saturation and hue of the wine's color. In particular, avoid fluorescent light sources, as they can make red wine look like an unhealthy brown color, and may even give it a purplish undertone. A white background object can set off the wine glass, allowing us to observe the wine's color more clearly and easily. When tasting wine while sitting, a white tablecloth, white paper towels, or white kitchen roll paper are all good choices. In a formal wine - tasting occasion, a white plastic board not only provides a good background but is also easy to wipe clean after use. For standing - style wine - tasting venues, a white wall or a large white board can serve as the background for observing the wine.
Finally, the temperature of the wine - tasting venue should be appropriate and there should be no unpleasant odors. A suitable temperature allows the wine to showcase its best flavors, while unpleasant odors can interfere with our judgment of the wine's aroma. A quiet, clean, well - temperatured and odor - free wine - tasting environment enables us to better focus on the wine tasting.
The timing of wine tasting
The ideal time for wine tasting is approximately before a meal, when wine can be served as an aperitif. Around 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. both meet this requirement. If you don't want to taste wine on an empty stomach (as alcohol is absorbed quickly on an empty stomach), you can first drink a large glass of milk or water, and then have a plain - flavored sandwich as a "base" to line your stomach. For those with a low alcohol tolerance, drinking plenty of water during the wine - tasting process is a quite effective way to relieve the discomfort caused by alcohol.
ISO wine tasting glasses
When tasting wine, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) wine glass is widely recognized as the most ideal choice.International Standard Organization International Organization for Standardization
This type of wine glass has strict size requirements. The width of the glass base is 65 mm ± 5 mm, the length of the stem is 55 mm ± 3 mm, the length of the glass body is 100 mm ± 2 mm, the width of the bottom of the glass body is 65 mm ± 2 mm, the width of the rim is 46 mm ± 2 mm, the total length of the wine glass is 155 mm ± 5 mm, the total capacity of the wine glass is 215 ml (C.C.) ± 10 ml, and the thickness of the glass body is 0.8 mm ± 0.1 mm. Moreover, it is a colorless, crystal glass with a lead content ratio of about 9% or higher.
When tasting wine, the amount poured into the glass is approximately 35 - 50 milliliters (C.C.). A suitable wine glass can improve the accuracy of wine tasting. Whether it is for judging the appearance of the wine or identifying its aroma, a proper glass is far superior to an inappropriate one. Therefore, experts all recommend using ISO wine glasses as the best choice for wine tasting.
Factors affecting the olfactory experience of wine glasses
Wine glasses have a significant impact on the process of smelling wine, which is mainly reflected in the following four aspects.
First, it's the shape of the wine glass. Different shape designs can affect our perception of the wine's aroma. Some specially - shaped wine glasses can better guide the aroma towards the nose, making it easier for us to smell the wine's fragrance.
Secondly, there is a relatively large interior area in a wine glass. This can increase the spreading range of the wine and make it easier to swirl and shake the glass. When we gently swirl the wine in the glass, the aromatic substances in the wine can volatilize more quickly, allowing us to fully experience the aroma of the wine.
Thirdly, it refers to the size of the space inside the glass up to the rim that can hold the wine. This space is sufficient to influence the convection, development, and concentration of the wine's aroma. An appropriate space allows for good convection of the aroma within the glass, enabling us to perceive a more intense and complex fragrance.
Fourthly, it's about the relationship between the size of the cup body and the cup mouth. There needs to be a proper balance between the two, which should be able to release the aroma and prevent the aroma from leaking out too quickly. If the cup mouth is too large, the aroma may dissipate rapidly, and it will be difficult for us to fully experience the aroma of the wine. If the cup mouth is too small, the release of the aroma may be restricted, which is also not conducive to our smelling the wine.
Selection of light sources
In the process of wine tasting, the choice of light source is also very crucial.
Natural sunlight is, of course, the best light source as it can truly reveal the color and hue of wine. However, in the actual wine - tasting process, we mostly use artificial light sources. But artificial light sources can affect the saturation and tone of wine. In particular, fluorescent light sources can make red wine look oddly colored. It may seem to have an unhealthy brown color, and there may even be a hidden purple - like tint.
Candlelight can enhance the appearance of wine. However, in relatively formal wine - tasting occasions, candlelight is mainly used to observe the true purity of wine. For example, it can be used when observing young wines just drawn from the barrels in the cellar or when serving wine during dinner.
Although indirect sunlight (refraction) is quite ideal, it is not very practical in actual operation. In terms of artificial lighting, standard light bulbs are a better choice than fluorescent lights. However, both of these light sources will, to some extent, make the color of red wine appear more brownish when it comes to the wine's appearance. Meanwhile, the wine's color will seem to indicate an "older" vintage than it actually is.