Americans shouldn’t whine about their wine! More than 150 million gallons of wine were made in American wineries in October 2021.
The sheer amount of wine gives you many opportunities to become a connoisseur of wine. But you can’t become a wine connoisseur just by buying a few bottles. You need to understand a lot of principles that go into tasting and making wine.
How should you taste a glass of wine? What kinds of wine should you taste? How can you become a true wine expert?
Answer these questions and you can master the art of fine wine in no time. Here is your quick guide.
Use the Five S’s of Wine
Using the five S’s of wine will help you appreciate wine better during wine tastings. The first S is “see.” You should look at the color of the wine and see if there are any particulates in the beverage.
The second S is “swirl.” You should swirl your glass in a circle, allowing oxygen to mix and touch the drink. This allows the wine to release its aromas, creating a stronger smell.
“Smell” is the third S. Put your nose to your glass and close your eyes so you can focus on the aromas. You may smell grapes alongside citrus fruits, berries, and spices.
You can now sip the wine and taste it. Make sure to swirl the beverage around in your mouth so you can taste it with all parts of your tongue.
Hold the wine in place for a few seconds so you can savor the flavors. Take notes on the flavors you taste and whether you like the wine or not.
Break Down the Characteristics of Wine
Wine can have a few different characteristics due to the chemicals in the drink. Tannins are chemical substances that come from acids. They create an acidic and bitter taste in the mouth, making your mouth feel dry after you have swallowed the wine.
Alcohol can make you get drunk, but it can also help balance the sweet and acidic flavors in the drink. You should find a wine with a moderate amount of alcohol if you’re looking for an even balance of flavors.
The structure refers to the overall balance of components in the wine. A wine with a good structure will have tannins, alcohol, and acidic touches.
You should read guides to each of these characteristics and sample wines with strong amounts of each. This lets you know which wines you prefer.
Find Out About Different Wines
Wineries make white wine with white grapes, and they separate the skins from the juice before fermenting the drink. This imparts fewer tannins to the wine, creating a drink that does not make your mouth feel dry.
Red wine has red grapes and more tannins. You can find red wines with a number of flavors in them, including berries and dried fruits. You should also compare white and red wine together to see which one you like best.
Sparkling wine contains carbon dioxide in it, creating a light and refreshing drink. Champagne is the most popular kind of sparkling wine, but it can be very expensive. Sample it before you buy it so you don’t waste your money if you don’t like it.
As the name suggests, dessert wine is extremely sweet, making it good to drink with or as dessert. Some wines are mixed with juice and spirits while others use very sweet grapes.
Learn How to Serve Wine
Wine glasses can make the difference between a great drink and a poor one. When you are serving red wine, you should put it in a wide glass. This allows oxygen to diffuse across the wine and disperse the aromas.
White wine does not need as much oxygen, so you should serve white drinks in small glasses. Sparkling wine should also go in a narrow glass, but its glass should be very tall to keep the bubbles in the drink.
You should hold a wine glass by pinching the stem with your thumb and index finger. You can put your palm on the base of the glass to control it and keep any wine from spilling. Do not hold the bowl, as the heat from your hands will raise the temperature of the drink.
You should consider the serving temperature as well. Sparking and light wines should be very cold, but you shouldn’t bring them to the freezing point. 38 to 45 degrees is usually fine.
Red wines should be just below room temperature, around 55 degrees. You can serve full-bodied red and dessert wines at room temperature, though they should not be hotter than 68 degrees.
Get Educated From True Wine Connoisseurs
You can become a wine tasting expert by yourself. But you should try to gather knowledge from a wine expert near you. They can give you advice on tools you can use for wine, such as a wine keeper to prevent your drink from aging.
Try to go to a few wine tastings. You should sample several different types of wine, and you can learn about pairing wine with food. Try sampling wines from local wineries, as it will be easier to buy the drinks you like.
Become a True Connoisseur of Wine
Becoming a connoisseur of wine means becoming an expert on many things. You should learn how to taste a wine using the five S’s. You should know what tannins and alcohol levels mean and experiment with drinks that have different chemicals in them.
Sample red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines. Make sure you are using the perfect glasses and serving temperatures. If your home isn’t right for wine drinking, you can go to a wine tasting expert for help.
Wine is more than meets the eye. Read more guides to wine by following our coverage.
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