Enjoying a great bottle of wine takes more than just popping the cork and sipping from the glass. Getting the most out you wine experience involves resting, chilling, breathing, pouring, inspecting and sensorizing. Following these simple tips can maximize your wine tasting experience.
After selecting and purchasing your wine, allow the un-opened bottle to rest for a period of time, two to three days is best, at 12 deg. Celsius (about 53 deg Fahrenheit). Resting accomplishes two things: Any sediment will settle and it brings out the character of the wine. Resting on it’s side will prevent cork shrinkage.
White wines and sparkling wines are best chilled between 48-54 deg. Fahrenheit. Reds taste best between 58- 65 deg. Fahrenheit. An ice bucket with a bit of water will quickly chill a bottle of wine in about 15 minutes.
Breathing is as essential to wine as it is us humans. This introduces oxygen back into the wine, aerating it thus enhancing the aroma and taste. There are two common ways this is accomplished Uncorking the wine bottle and letting it sit for around an hour is easiest, but takes longer. Decanting will significantly decrease the breathing time, but involves some skill. One must never haphazardly glug the wine into the decanter. It must be gently guided in as to not break down the delicate flavors and to keep unwanted sediment out. Decantering also enhances the tannins and makes the wine smoother.
Choosing a glass for presentation depends on the type of wine. Champagnes and sparkling wines go best in flutes, white wines should be served in stemware that resembles a tulip. Reds should always be poured into rounded “cereal bowl” glasses. Pouring can be tricky, but quickly mastered. Most wines should be poured towards the center of the glass, but never quickly. Sparkling choices need to be poured against the side to preserve the bubbles.
Ready to taste? Inspect the color, make sure it is clear and brilliant. Dull wines means oxidation may have taken place. Gently coax the wine around the sides of the glass in a circular motion by holding the stem and softly twirling your wrist. Analyze the aroma, does it smell fruity, fragrant, woody? Thoroughly chew your wine. I’m not kidding, inspecting the wine within your oral cavity is called chewing. To properly chew, work the wine around your mouth, over and under your tongue and in between your cheeks for several seconds. Slowly let it slide down your throat. Take another sip, chew, and aerate by sucking in a tiny bit of air while holding the wine near the middle of your tongue. This releases more aromas and flavors heightening your wines enjoyability even more.
You have now experienced your first wine tasting.