Humans have been drinking wine for thousands and thousands of years. However, we now have a greater selection, quality, and variety of wines than at anytime in the past.
The top wine-producing regions of the world may share a common love for vineyards and wine, however, their final products can taste completely different.
If you are curious about the world of wines and you’ve always wanted to learn how to taste it properly, you are in the right place, here is how you can learn to assess wine and develop your palate.
Color
The color of the wine and its depth gives a great insight into its age and the kind of grape used. For example, if there is any sediment in the wine, this could indicate that it is an older wine. Young white wines are light in color and deepen into a golden or brown color as they age. Contrastingly, red wines start out as very dark and will lose color as they become older.
Taste
The taste of wine will differ according to the type of region, grape, and fermentation process. An excellent way to expand your knowledge and learn about the differences in wines is through a wine subscription. This service will deliver a tailored selection of wines to your home that has been specifically picked out to suit your tastes.
There are four elements that make up a wine’s structure: dryness, alcohol, tannin, and acidity. A large part of a wine’s taste is derived from a combination of these four elements. To know if the wine is dry, try to taste whether there is any sugary residue in the wine. Is it sweet? Or is it dry? The alcohol is tasted due to the warming sensation that the wine gives.
Tannins are more relevant for red wines; however, this compound gives the wine its bitter taste. Lastly, the acidity in a wine can be determined by how dry the wine makes your mouth. A highly acidic wine will make your mouth water, whereas a less acidic wine feels rounder.
Aroma
The smell will also give you an insight into the different aromas and notes the wine has. The best way to open up the smell of the wine is by taking short breaths through your nose and breathing out of your mouth. Make sure that the wine doesn’t smell like wet cardboard – this means it’s corked and no longer drinkable.
For white wines look for citrusy notes, like lime, and orchard fruit notes, like apple or pear. For red wines think of red fruit notes, like cranberry, or black fruit notes, like blackberry. Other common aromas include earthy flavors, like wet soil, and spicy notes, like nutmeg.
Remember to drink responsibly, however, practice makes perfect. Try out your newfound skills every so often and change up your wine selection every time to truly test your palate. If you want to develop your palate you should push yourself out of your comfort zone, take notes, and compare differences. You will be an expert in no time!
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