It can be difficult to learn about new ideas and new experiences like wine tasting. However, all experts had to start somewhere. Take the leap with these simple tips.
Identifying aromas, recognizing varieties, discovering how to pair food and wine, and everything related to the world of wine, can be a little intimidating. But like any new experience, you’ve got to dive in and learn as much as you can.
As the website Wine Folly explains, there are some basic concepts you should understand, like the fact that grapes used to produce wine are not the same grapes you’ll find in the supermarket. But no one is born knowing this kind of information.
So where should you start? Without a doubt, the terminology can be a big limitation. In the blog 6 terms for describing wine, you can review some of the most commonly used terms. Now, for the next steps Viñedos Veramonte’s Head Winemaker recommends the following tips:
Don’t be afraidThis is crucial in any new field. Fear can block your capacity for learning, and what you most need is to have your senses open in order to perceive the aromas and flavors of a wine. Don’t be afraid to try and ask questions. The only way to train yourself is to keep trying.
Dare to make a changeIt’s likely that if you already have a good understand of the varieties you like, you’ll continue drinking just those varieties. But don’t limit yourself; the only way to discover new things you like is to break out from your norm.
Break away from “rules”The world of wine seems to be full of rules, like the connoisseurs that say white wines should accompany salads and white fish, and red wine only goes with meat.
For Viñedos Veramonte’s Head Winemaker, all of these “rules” can scare away an inexperienced consumer. So for those starting out, you must give them the freedom to try and discover what they like. Only then can they start perfecting their tasting skills.
Take a classGuided wine-tasting classes can be a great alternative for beginners, as long as it goes together with individual practice.
No one can try to learn without some individual studying, but talking it over with someone, or having a guide, can be a help because it will help increase your vocabulary. Putting words to the sensations you’re perceiving can be a difficult task.
Also, a good exercise is to test your sense of smell on things other than wine. In your kitchen, smell spices, smell the aromas of the fruits, vegetables, wooden objects, etc., as this will help you more easily identify aromas in your glass. And this way you’ll finally be able to understand what wine you’re tasting. For example, if it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon, you must know that it smells like pepper, rosemary, bay leaf, among the many descriptors.
When someone is guiding you, they can help give hints to identify aromas that you may not have recognized on your own.
Defects in wines can affect their organoleptic characteristics, which diminishes the wine in a tasting. How do you identify them? Trying wines.
Wine undergoes a natural process that can turn it into vinegar. Eventually a bottle that was not closed well or processed correctly, may become vinegar.
The only way for you to detect these defects is by training. Wine in its essence will never be bad, but it can lose qualitative characteristics.
As you can see, you just have to dive into the exploration of varieties and techniques. And while there are certain guidelines in the world of wine, don’t let these restrict your enthusiasm for trying and learning. Rules are just a suggestions to help you enjoy your experience even more.
These five tips to start in the world of wine are just an invitation for you to enjoy this new learning experience.
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