Tasting tips compiled by Randy Chamberlin,
owner of Grape Expectations Wine Bar,
5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven,
863-318-8800, www.GrapeExpectationsFineWine.com
Grape Expectations customers love to learn how to enjoy wine. When tasting wine, there are two important things to watch for: Oxidation and corked wine bottles.
Oxidation happens from a bad seal, which allows air to contact the wine over a long period. Signs of oxidation are browning and darkening of the wine, which indicates that a loss of freshness has occured.
A corked bottle of wine exudes a scent of mustiness - like wet paper. Corked bottles of wine are not harmful, but they make the wine unpleasant. This is the reason many wineries are going with screw caps.
Here is a quick three-step process for enjoying wine. It's a good way to remember how to taste a wine. Start with visual - "the appearance" - then nose -"bouquet" - the wine and finally, taste the wine.
These are the three steps to remember:
• Look - the wine should look appealing. No brown coloring in either red or white wine, which is a sign of oxidation. Swirl the wine and notice how it clings to the glass, this will give you a clue to its body. Does it cling to the side of the glass?
• Smell - The bouquet. Swirl the wine and nose the glass. You should experience a pleasant, fruity aroma. You are looking for fresh fruit flavors like apple, pears, berries and cherry. Maybe even a coffee or smoky scent.
• Taste - Let the wine flow over your tongue and palate. Move the wine around in your mouth to get an idea of the body of the wine.
Let's describe the body of wine comparing it to a product we all know, such as milk.
A light-bodied wine will be like skim milk. Medium body is like whole milk and full bodied is like heavy cream. Both smelling and tasting will give an idea of the complexity of the wine.
You should taste fresh fruit and maybe a crisp feel to the palate, possibly a soft buttery taste. There may be a flavor of oak from barrel aging.
There is no right or wrong way to taste a wine. We each have our own palate.
