I would have liked to call this article "Wine for Dummies", but OK, it seems that there is already a series of 'dummies' books known to a few people around the world. And you have to say what is, you are certainly not dummies, but rather experts in the making !
Fat legs, heavy body, a good structure. When i hear that, I seem to listen to a friend tell me about his latest conquest on a dating site. But no, this is simply the description that we can give of a wine.
For many people, most people in the wine business are fussy and use complicated vocabulary to show off. So, how to enjoy a wine without having to raise the collar of your polo shirt and live in Versailles, Paris west side ? Here is 7 tips you may find helpful.
1. Don't be ashamed of not being a "great taster"
Just because you drink coffee every morning doesn't mean you can be a coffee-tasting super star. It’s exactly the same for wine ! Don't worry if you can't find the taste of cat pee or petroleum that your table neighbor has found. Everyone has their own tastes and smelling different aromas in the same wine is quite normal.. To begin, pay attention to four characteristics : tannins, the alcohol, acidity and fruit aromas.
2. To spin the wine in your glass like a pro, use your elbow
Swirling the wine in your glass helps develop its aromas. If you're clumsy like me, consider spinning the wine by setting the glass on the table and circling. This technique can save your beautiful white Sunday shirt at the in-laws. If you are adventurous and want to show step mom or step dad that you are someone who knows everything, make small circles with your elbow rather than using your wrist.
3. Tasting is smelling aromas, so prepare your nose and use it correctly
No need to leave your nose above the glass and hyperventilate, make short passages alternating left and right nostrils. The two nostrils do not have the same sensitivity during the day so you might as well use the one that is most developed when tasting your wine.
4. Purchase an INAO wine and glass carafe
A red or white wine often needs to be shaken up a bit to reveal itself and this is all the more true for wines from the South. But be careful not to touch the carafe when it comes to Pinot Noir!
There is really no point in buying a wine aerator. Their effectiveness is only very limited and even oenologists have difficulty in finding the difference between a glass of wine not aerated and a glass aerated by this kind of gadget so keep your 15 € (minimum) to buy you a good bottle of wine !
5. Try to taste your wine at different temperatures
Most people misjudge the temperature of wine and this greatly affects tasting.. I invite you to reread the article on the rules of tasting and have a very simple experience at home by tasting the same bottle at different temperatures to fully understand the consequences on tasting: put a glass of wine in the freezer, another in the fridge and the third at room temperature.
I will make a small clarification before a lawsuit against me is brought, you should avoid leaving your glasses on overnight, otherwise you will have an ice cream in your freezer !
If not, you can read this article : « At what temperature to serve wine ? "
6. What if you got off the beaten track
Instead of settling for the trendy grape variety or region, why not discover other wines ? Look on the map of this item to realize the enormous possibilities that are presented to us. If you have only drunk Burgundy Chardonnay, taste the same grape variety from a "New World" country and you will see that it has nothing to do with !
7. Your taste is the best wine critic
I really don't think you're going to stop eating your favorite food because someone else hates it. It's exactly the same with wine. Just because Parker or some other reviewer gave a wine a bad rating doesn't mean it has to be bad., but just that it is not to his liking. The same goes for the price, don't be ashamed to like a cheap wine if it is to your liking. It is not because a wine is expensive that it is good and vice versa.
Drink in moderation what you like and enjoy this little pleasure, here is the main thing to remember. Like Conan enjoy the little pleasures of life !
8. You want to sound like a pro at any cost ?
If you're ready to make a deal with the devil to become a wine professional in seconds, there are a few solutions available to you, and without having to sell your soul !
I wrote an article on different smartphone apps. You just have to read this article, download the one that interests you, to be discreet and voila ! No need to hide your wingman under the table so that he can tell you the answers.
Another solution is to use a pipotron. Pipotron, quésaco ? It is simply a random sentence generator that can be adapted to all situations. Thanks to this tool you can easily become a politician, philosopher, poet… and wine taster thanks to the Chateau Loisel. I often wonder if the back labels of the bottles are not written thanks to this tool.
- Tasting : what to watch in a wine ?
- Tasting : how to smell a wine ?
- Tasting : how to taste a wine ?
- Tasting : how to conclude a tasting ?
- Learn to taste in 5 minutes
- What is a biodynamic tasting ?
Do not hesitate to let me know your impressions of your experience in the comments. You can also follow your wine blog with Instagram.
