1. Honor Thy Best Friend
It’s always more fun to drink with a partner in crime!
2. Do Thy Research
Take 20-30 minutes to educate yourself on the vineyard, winery or tasting room you’ll be visiting. Having a basic understanding of their geographic location, the grape varietals planted and history of the label will allow you to pick & choose wines to experiment with, and other’s you like to revisit. It’ll prepare you for a conversation with winemakers, and staff while showing a great deal of respect for their craft.
3. Thou Shalt Not Wear White
For the stubborn hearted, read “Don’t Cry Over Spilt Wine.”
4.Thou Shalt Not Chug Before Swirling
Allow the wine to ‘breath.’ Swirling helps to aerate the wine allowing the aromas to come forward.
5. Thou Shall Memorize Varietals Characteristics
90% of taste is smell, therefore, the most important aspect of wine tasting is to smell the juice. This will help you to identify certain characteristics of grape varieties. By memorizing these notes you will develop a personal preference for individual styles that will form the foundation of your wine knowledge. I suggest beginning with three major white grapes (Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay) and three major red grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir).
6. Savor Thy Juice
Wine has three tastes: sweet (residual sugar), sour (acidity), and bitter (high tannin or high alcohol). By letting the wine linger before swallowing you will become more aware of the sensations of taste and where they occur on your tongue and in your mouth.
*Sweetness- tip of tongue
*Acidity- sides of tongue, cheek area, back of throat
*Bitterness- back of tongue (ex. olives, coffee, arugula)
*Tannin (gritty, tactile sensation)- middle of tongue
7. Honor Thy Spittoon
General rule of thumb: spit at tastings, swallow at dinner. It’s
8. Thou Shalt Not Cup The Bulge
Consider a bit of tasting etiquette, and hold your wine glass firmly by the stem. Not only is it classier, but also you’ll have better leverage to swirl your wine, and will avoid disturbing the wines temperature.
9. Honor Thine Own Rules
Ask questions, be social and consider basic wine tasting guidelines and techniques, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
10. Remember To Call Thy D.D.
XOXO,
