Wine
is a wonderful beverage with
many different facets. Some
people only drink wine on
special occasions, but if
you are like me you enjoy
trying as many new wines as
possible as often as you can.
In order to increase your
enjoyment and wine drinking
satisfaction there are a series
of terms and techniques you
should become familiar with.
Wine comes in different taste,
color and ingredients. Tasting
more and more of wines will
make you more aware of your
specific taste and preferences
and the specific characteristics
of the different varietals.
Tasting wine is a sequence
of event that enhances the
enjoyment of imbibing. Wine
can be an intimidating subject,
but becoming familiar with
the following terms in regards
to the taste, flavors, and
ingredients of wine will break
down the "snob factor"
associated with wine and start
you on the road to becoming
a true connoisseur. The following
are some basic wine words
to become familiar with.
Sweetness
The
degree to which a wine tastes
sweet. Sweetness is tasted
on the tongue. Residual
sugar also can change the
viscosity of a wine, making
it richer. The impression
of sweetness comes from
either sugars, or alcohol,
or both, and can be altered
in relationship to the presence
of acidity. The sweetness
of the wine can be determined
by the amount of fermented
sugar and fruit added to
it.
Acidity
The
next flavor tasted in wine
is the feel of acidity.
The acid taste can be felt
to create taste and freshness
in the flavor established.
The taste of acidity creates
freshness, crispy and zest
in a balanced manner. Most
of the drinkers prefer acidity
taste of wine to come up
with the purpose of having
the wine. It helps the people
to enjoy the taste and make
it meaningful. The characteristic
of wine differs in each
kind of taste and flavor
mixed. The degree to which
a wine has sourness, or
tartness, a taste perceived
on the tongue. Derived from
natural grape acids, primarily
tartaric and malic, but
may also include lactic
and acetic from microbial
action, whether intentional
or otherwise. A compound
present in all grapes and
an essential component of
wine that preserves it,
enlivens and shapes its
flavors and helps prolong
its aftertaste. There are
four major kinds of acids--tartaric,
malic, lactic and citric--found
in wine. Acid is identifiable
by the crisp, sharp character
it imparts to a wine.
Alcohol
Essential
component of wine which
gives a sense of sweetness,
especially in dry wine,
and contributes to body
and length of finish. Can
be noticed as warmth in
the back of the throat.
Big is a term used often
to describe a wine high
in alcohol, usually also
heavy in body. Too much
alcohol in a wine makes
it hot. Its affects run
from the obvious to the
not so obvious. Alcohol
doesn't just provide the
kick it gives texture ("body"),
flavor (roundness and sweetness)
and vinosity (makes it smell
and taste like wine) as
well as providing balance
and a certain chemical and
physical stability to wines.
The primary alcohol is known
as ethyl alcohol or ethanol,
but there are dozens of
other so-called "higher"
alcohols which though in
minute quantites provide
hundreds of flavors.
Fruitiness
The
fruitiness can be tasted
more in wine, because it
is product which extracted
from rich grapey fruits.
It comes in crispy, freshly
and tasty flavors. Tasting
term for wine which has
retained the fresh flavor
of the grapes used in its
fermentation. Not to be
confused with sweetness.
A wine can be fruity and
not sweet.
Structure
Related
to balance; all of the in
mouth basic impressions
of sweet, sour, salty, bitter,
along with alcohol, body,
etc., but in absence of
the more complex, organoleptic
impressions detectable by
the olfactory bulb. In other
words, everything but the
aroma.
Body
The
impression of weight or
fullness on the palate;
usually the result of a
combination of glycerin,
alcohol and sugar. Commonly
expressed as full-bodied,
medium-bodied or medium-weight,
or light-bodied.
Understanding
these basics will help you
to figure out the style
of wine that suits you best
and will help you to be
a much more educated consumer.
Soon you will be able to
taste a wine and by using
these wine basics you should
be able to narrow down the
type of wine you are drinking
without even looking at
the label. Your friends
will be impressed and your
wine confidence will be
sky high.
Learn More about Wine
Tasting
