People have been making and drinking wine for thousands of years, and there are more great wines to enjoy today than at any time in history. Signing up for a guided tour is the single best way to sample the wines that make a given region special and distinctive. Naturally enough, tour participants who prepare appropriately and keep a few ideas in mind will always have the best, most enjoyable experiences.
Wine Tours are more popular than ever before, with some especially prolific wine-making regions now featuring many. It should be possible for any fan of wine to enjoy a day jam-packed with vineyards to visit and varietals and vintages to sample.
Experienced wine tasters know, though, that technique and preparation make a difference. Six tips that help make wine tasting even more satisfying and rewarding are:
1.Grab your glass by the stem
There are a number of different types of glasses that are traditionally used to serve wine, and almost all of them have elongated stems. The reason for this is that a lengthy stem allows someone to hold the glass without warming up the bowl and the wine within it. While simply touching the bowl will not hurt, keeping it in contact with warm flesh for any length of time is always best avoided. Simply pinch your glass’s stem between your fingers and your wine will remain fresh and at its best.
2· Swirl before you sip
· Most bottles of wine will be allowed to “breathe” after they get uncorked and before they are served. Some wines even benefit from vigorous decanting that adds oxygen, in addition to the primary purpose of removing sediment. You can do your part by swirling your wine around a bit before drinking any of it. That will help the wine’s flavors and aromas open up and become more recognisable and approachable.
3· Bouquet is for the nose
· Much of the flavor of wine comes from the aromas produced by the many volatile compounds within it. While their combined effect can be appreciated when wine is in the mouth, it will be clearer and better defined before that moment arrives. Before even letting a single drop of wine touch your tongue, put your nose to the glass’s opening and inhale. Let that bouquet set the stage for the sips to follow and you will appreciate your wine even more.
4 You’re tasting, not drinking
· It is quite common to have the option to sample a dozen or more wines in the course of a single tour. While there is nothing wrong with imbibing wine when circumstances permit, be sure to pace yourself. In most cases, it will be best to arrange for the majority of the wine that enters your mouth to exit by some means other than ingestion.
5 Your palate can get tired
Even when you start the day sharp, your palate will eventually become numb to the flavors and textures of wine. Bits of food enjoyed at intervals can help keep your tongue from tiring out, but it will eventually give in. As such, it can be best to pass on certain wines in order to remain ready to appreciate others.
6 You’re an authority
Wine critics can be intimidating with their jargon and apparent sophistication. Your experiences with and opinions about wine, though, are just as valid as anyone else’s. Listen to what others have to say and take their thoughts into consideration, but remember that your feelings about the wines you taste ultimately matter the most.
Keeping tips like these in mind can help make a tour of wine country even more rewarding. It will always be best to strive to enjoy the experience however suits you best, too, because that is really what makes wine so precious.
