Know Your Wine

Look: Check out the Color and Clarity. Pour a glass of wine into a suitable wine glass. Then take a good look at the wine. Tilt the glass away from you and check out the color of the wine from the rim edges to the middle of the glass (it's helpful to have a white background - either paper, napkin or a white tablecloth). What color is it? Look beyond red, white or blush. If it's a red wine is the color maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red, brick or even brownish? If it's a white wine is it clear, pale yellow, straw-like, light green, golden, amber or brown in appearance?

Still Looking. Move on to the wine's opacity. Is the wine watery or dark, translucent or opaque, dull or brilliant, cloudy or clear? Can you see sediment? Tilt your glass a bit, give it a little swirl - look again, is there sediment, bits of cork or any other floaters? An older red wine will be more translucent than younger red wines.

Smell: Our sense of smell is critical in properly analyzing a glass of wine. To get a good impression of your wine's aroma, gently swirl your glass (this helps vaporize some of the wine's alcohol and release more of its natural aromas) and then take a quick whiff to gain a first impression.

Still Smelling. Now stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose. What are your second impressions? Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine's aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics. Gently swirl the wine and let the aromas mix and mingle, and sniff again.

Taste: Finally, take a taste. Start with a small sip and let it roll around your tongue. There are three stages of taste: the Attack phase, the Evolution phase and the Finish.

The Attack Phase, is the initial impression that the wine makes on your palate. The Attack is comprised of four pieces of the wine puzzle: alcohol content, tannin levels, acidity and residual sugar. These four puzzle pieces display initial sensations on the palate. Ideally these components will be well-balanced one piece will not be more prominent than the others. These four pieces do not display a specific flavor per se, they meld together to offer impressions in intensity and complexity, soft or firm, light or heavy, crisp or creamy, sweet or dry, but not necessarily true flavors like fruit or spice.

The Evolution Phase is next, also called the mid-palate or middle range phase, this is the wine’s actual taste on the palate. In this phase you are looking to discern the flavor profile of the wine. If it’s a red wine you may start noting fruit – berry, plum, prune or fig; perhaps some spice – pepper, clove, cinnamon, or maybe a woody flavor like oak, cedar, or a detectable smokiness. If you are in the Evolution Phase of a white wine you may taste apple, pear, tropical or citrus fruits, or the taste may be more floral in nature or consist of honey, butter, herbs or a bit of earthiness.

The Finish is appropriately labeled as the final phase. The wine's finish is how long the flavor impression lasts after it is swallowed. This is where the wine culminates, where the aftertaste comes into play. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like water) or full-bodied (like the consistency of milk)? Can you taste the remnant of the wine on the back of your mouth and throat? Do you want another sip or was the wine too bitter at the end? What was your last flavor impression – fruit, butter, oak? Does the taste persist or is it short-lived?

After you have taken the time to taste your wine, you might record some of your impressions. Did you like the wine overall? Was it sweet, sour or bitter? How was the wine's acidity? Was it well balanced? Does it taste better with cheese, bread or a heavy meal? Will you buy it again? If so, jot the wine's name, producer and vintage year down for future reference.

VARIETAL WINES

VARIETAL TYPE	PRONUNCIATION	DESCRIPTION
CHARDONNAY	Shar-doe-nay	Dry. Ripe apple-pea aromas that are enriched by buttery flavors.
SAUVIGNON BLANC	So-ven-yawn Blahnk	Dry. Light, with crisp melon and lemongrass aromas and flavors.
PINOT GRIGIO	Pee-noh GREE-gee-oh	Dry. Refreshingly light with citrus, peach and pear flavors.
VIOGNIER	Vee-OHN-yay	Dry. Peach and orange blossom aromas enhanced by soft, tropical fruit flavors.
RIESLING	REEZ-ling	Dry to off dry. Lively acidity with peach, apricot, and tart green apple flavors.
WHITE ZINFANDEL	White Zin-fan-del	Simi-dry. Light with fresh berry fruit aromas and lively flavors
MERLOT	Mare-low	Dry. Black cherry, mint and tobacco aromas with juicy cherry and plum flavors.
PINOT NOIR	Pee-no-Nwar	Dry. Raspberry aromas with cherry like flavors and mild tannins.
ZINFANDEL	Zin-fan-del	Dry. Berryish, peppery aromas with zesty, spice flavors
SHIRAZ	Sher-oz	Dry. Fragrant aromas with cherry, plum and spice flavors.
CABERNET	Cah-bear-nay	Dry. Cherry and cassis aromas with smooth flavors.

Now it’s time to try out your skills. Every Friday from 5pm – 7pm at Tops Sunset Marketplace.