Fact: wine tasting is an enjoyable voyage that can take you around the globe experiencing the wonderful assortments of wines and their relations to their natural and cultural legacy. Whether you’re the aspiring wine connoisseur, or someone who appreciates a good glass of wine with their meal, this blog post is for you!
Have you ever found yourself asking for suggestions when ordering your wine? Well, a perfect pair of food and drink is pretty much like a match made in heaven and can add a whole new dimension to a diner’s gastronomic experience.
This is why Sciacca has come up with a few handy tips worth keeping in mind when tasting and choosing wine:
1. Discover the different types of wine
The wine you choose will have a direct impact on your overall tasting experience. So it’s good to invest some time in reading up about them. Search online for more information on the wine its region to fully understand the nature of the wine and the intricacies of flavour to look out for when going on a tasting.
2. Observe the wine’s appearance
Try this little trick: fill the glass just about one-third full and hold it up to the light to take in the entire exquisiteness of the wine, its tint and complexity. Take in its clarity and density to see the complex range of grapes, the type of wine and age.
If the appearance is yellowish-brown the chances are it’s too old and well past its peak. Place the glass on the surface and swirl it around. If any wine trickles down the side of the glass this indicates that it’s a good, strong wine with a good level of alcohol.
3. It’s also good think about the aroma
Gently breathe in (there’s no need to take a deep breath, a few short sniffs will do) the aromas to take in the full variations of the wine. As an would-be connoisseur, you should focus on the scents that make up the wine and notice whether they’re floral or fruity.
Concentrate on the variety of grapes and fruit, and perhaps even try to recognise the type of climate they were grown in. You’ll soon learn to distinguish the often-subtle differences of floral, herbal and more earthy aromas.
4. Take note of taste
Lightly sip the wine and let it swish around your mouth – not to the back of the throat – and allow the flavours to immerse themselves as they complement your previous ‘sniff’ test. Similarly, look out for the diversity of flavours of fruit, flower, and herbs. Pay particular attention to the balance between sweet or sour and if it has a hint of a bitter note.
5. Keep in mind food and wine pairings
Wine and food are synonymous with one another so it’s only logical to enjoy them together. It’s all about finding the perfect combination of food and wine that will seamlessly complement each other. As with any connoisseur, if you wish to develop your wine tasting skills, it’s good to give some thought to the type of cuisine or dish that will be accompanying your wine. Whether it’s meat, fish, fatty, sweet or spicy the dominant features will affect your palate and appreciation of the wine.
Bonus Tip: Interestingly, our palates are more alkaline in the earlier part of the day. This means that the best time for wine tasting is before a lunch.
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Champagne? Do you like yours sweet or dry, red or white? Aged or recently picked? The ability to acquire the knowledge of what to look for when tasting wines doesn’t simply happen out of the blue.
Whether you’re a novice or are already on your way to becoming an aspiring wine connoisseur, we hope that the above guidelines have been useful. And remember, if you’re looking for a good chunk of juicy steak, be sure to book your table at one of Malta’s best steakhouses, Sciacca Grill.