Tasting wine is an art... You should know, first of all, that there are three stages for wine tasting: the visual, the olfactory and finally the taste.
Wine tasting steps
The visual :
To begin with, the position of the lens is essential. Therefore, it is recommended to position it above a white surface and under a light source. With this action, we can have more information about our wine.
Thanks to light, we can detect the possible presence of particles in suspension. You can also find out more about the acidity of the wine. If the tears (wine running down the side of the glass) are thick, then the wine is rather oily. If they are fine and go down quickly, the wine is rather acid.
Always with the position of the glass, we manage to have an idea of the age of the wine (thanks to the color (dress), we can guess if it is a young vintage or if it is rather evolved.
The olfactory:
This step makes it possible to identify the aromas present in the wine. Just smell the wine before swirling it inside the glass, then smell the wine a second time after swirling the glass, in a circular fashion. This action allows the aromas to be released on contact with the air.
The taste:
Once the first two stages have been completed, it's time for the tasting in the truest sense of the word! To do this, simply take a small sip of wine in your mouth, inhale the air through your lips and exhale through your nose, to circulate the aromas.
(Take the wine in the mouth, analyze the texture of the wine and its flavors with the mid-palate).
What are the flavors to identify?
Flavor is the perception in the mouth. There are three flavors in wine:
- Acidity: Sensation of freshness in the mouth. Perceptible by the sides of the tongue, the acidity makes the mouth react with very fluid salivation.
- Smoothness: It generates a feeling of fat and roundness in the mouth.
- Bitterness: Which can be found in red wines only.
What to enjoy a glass of wine with?
If you're looking for pairings, there are plenty of delicious selections to choose from. If you're craving something salty, hard cheeses like Parmesan or aged cheddar are a great side dish. For a more indulgent treat, try pairing your wine with charcuterie like prosciutto or salami. Vegetable dishes like roasted red peppers, artichokes and mushrooms also pair well with many types of wine.
If you're feeling more adventurous, try the following combinations: white wines and sparkling wines pair well with fresh fruit like strawberries and peaches; full-bodied red wines pair well with grilled steaks and rich pasta dishes; red wines from the range of wines from the range of red wines Wines from the Rhône Valley, such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, go well with roast lamb; and sweet wines like Muscat or Moscato are perfect for a decadent dessert. Don't be afraid to experiment and find the combinations that best suit your taste buds.
Just let yourself go... and good tasting!
