2009 - California Wine
Understanding the Basics of Wine Tasting
The wine taster's ritual of peering into a glass, swirling it around and sniffing suspiciously at it, before taking a mouthful only to spit it out again looks highly mysterious and technical. However, as you try more and more wines, your awareness of flavors and your personal preferences will develop. It is however a sequence of events that can enhance the enjoyment of good wine. Once learned, they become almost second nature to even the novice taster.
The wine taster's ritual of peering into a glass, swirling it around and sniffing suspiciously at it, before taking a mouthful only to spit it out again looks highly mysterious and technical. However, as you try more and more wines, your awareness of flavors and your personal preferences will develop. It is however a sequence of events that can enhance the enjoyment of good wine. Once learned, they become almost second nature to even the novice taster.
Wines Appearance
Pour your wine into a wine glass so that it is about 40% full, you will need room for swirling. Have a good look at the wine. Is it clear, opaque, or cloudy? Does it contain sediments or other solid matter? Tilt the glass away from you at a 45-degree angle against a white background so you can enjoy the range of colors in the wine from the center to the rim.
Wine changes color with age. Whites are at its palest state during their youth, gradually adding stronger color. Red wine, on the other hand, has more vivid color in its youth, slowly fading to brick red.
Smell the Wine
Give your glass a vigorous swirl to help release the aromas. Swirling takes a bit of practice. This technique can be learned by leaving the wine glass on the table, holding it by the stem, and rotating it in small circles. The object is to get the wine to move up to around 70% of sides of the glass.
Stick your nose right into the glass and inhale steadily and gently, as if you were smelling a flower. These vital seconds of inhalation will reveal all kinds of familiar and unfamiliar smells. Try to detect the smell of fruity or floral notes. Decide what they remind you of if possible. Note the presence of spices, such as pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, tea or possibly nuts. Finally, note the presence of other aromas, such as cedar, oak, moist earth, herbs, chocolate, tobacco, toast, or smoke. Always interpret them in terms that mean something to you.
Remember, it's your nose that counts here. It does not matter if someone else interprets the smell differently, that is part of the pleasure of wine.
Taste
At last, it is time to drink the wine. The following components that make up the flavor of the wine can be detected by rolling wine around in your mouth and concentrating on what comes to mind as you taste.
Sweetness
This the fruit flavor tasted at the front of the tongue. This comes from the wine's fruit flavors as well as any fermented grape sugars left in the wine. If there is no perceived sweetness, a wine is dry.
Acidity
This gives wine freshness and zest. When balanced, it makes for a fresh, crisp, enjoyable wine. On the other end of the spectrum, acidity can lend a negative, vinegary taste to the wine.
Tannin
Comes from the stems and skins of the grape. It has a woody taste, similar to flavor released when biting a grape seed. Tannin can be mouth puckering, but it normally mellows with age.
Alcohol
In low concentrations, alcohol portrays itself as somewhat sweet, and in high concentrations, it shows as a warm, pervasive sensation at the back of the mouth.
Fruitiness
The intensity and flavor depends on the grape variety, growing conditions, and wine making techniques.
Balance
For a good wine, there should be a balance of the above flavor components. If any one of the components is overpowering, the experience of drinking the wine can be tainted. This can sometimes mean that the wine is young and will become more balanced with age.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
California Wine and More
Understanding the Basics of Wine Tasting
The wine taster's ritual of peering into a glass, swirling it around and sniffing suspiciously at it, before taking a mouthful only to spit it out aga...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Featured California Wine Items
Riedel Sommelier Champagne Flute (1)
The Riedel Sommelier wine glass line is the top-of-the-line series of stemware from the legendary Riedel. Wine experts agree that glassware makes a profound difference on how wines taste. Riedel Sommelier wine glasses are the benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each Sommelier wine glass is individually made of 24% lead crystal: the wine glass bowls are mouth-blown into a mould the stem and base are handcrafted using ancient glass-making methods. Riedel Sommelier Champagne Flutes bring out the fine aromas and effervescence of fine Champagne and sparkling wine. The Champagne flute filled with four ounces of Champagne concentrates the unique yeasty bouquet while emphasizing their creamy texture on the palate. The bubbles are not allowed to dominate but are part of the overall pleasure. 9-5/8'H 11-5/8oz. Attention California residents. Proposition 65 WARNING.
Price: 60.00 USD
News about California Wine
The worst foods in America in 2009
Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:20:58 -0800
Most amateur athletes understand that weight is the enemy of athletic performance. The heavier you are, the slower you are in most cases. So what are the the foods that should be avoided at all costs to stay slim and fit. What are the, " 20 industrial-strength calorie bombs this year?" Men's Health Magazine has compiled a list of the 20 worst foods in America in 2009, and here are three "mega calorie meals" that represent foods that you may want to avoid if you are training for your favorite
TACKLING CALORIES (Asbury Park Press)
Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:03:46 -0800
It's Super Bowl Sunday. Your friends are fretting over their favored team, but you are fretting over the hors d'oeuvres, fantasizing about ruining your New Year's resolution on blue cheese dressing-slathered Buffalo wings or a tempting bowl of potato chips.
Market find: Arnold Select Sandwich Thins (Detroit News)
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:26:48 -0800
We all know that portion control is key to a healthy diet, and now Arnold Foods is helping us make those choices a lot easier with pre-sliced sandwich thins that are only 100 calories per serving (two slices). The delicious thins, more practical than a pita and healthier than a roll, are available in 100-percent whole wheat, whole-grain white or multi-grain, and are an excellent source of fiber. ...
Food Porn Alert: Chili's "Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie"
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:16:10 -0800
1,600-Calorie Dessert Equivalent to One and a Half Racks of Chili’s Original Baby Back Ribs. Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie is a bar containing chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut, underneath vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and caramel toppings.
Best Wine
Cheese Wine
Labels: Chianti Region | Chianti Wine
0 Comments:
<< Home