Wine etiquette: the dos and don’ts of tasting
Don’t be intimidated at wine tastings, just abide by these rules
Wine tastings are enjoyable and instructive for newbies and old pros alike. They help you refine what you like and don’t like, and discover new wines, regions and vintages. However, they can also be a little intimidating, so here are few tips to make you feel at home.
FIND OUT THE FORMAT
It is good to know before you arrive whether it is a sit-down tasting or a walk around event. Sit-down events tend to be more structured – don’t start tasting the wines before the event starts. Normally there is a glass of Champagne to begin proceedings, tuck into that instead.
TAKE NOTES
Notes are helpful for remembering which wines and vintages you enjoy, as well as the distinctive flavours and smells belonging to certain grapes. How you choose to take notes is up to you, but reflect on colour, smell, flavour and how long these last in your mouth. It’s also a good idea to give the wine a score based on a personal scale, out of 20 for example, this way you can build up a knowledge of what grapes work for you.
DON’T HOLD THE BOWL
It is proper etiquette to hold the stem of the glass. Grubby fingers don’t look good but more importantly your hand will affect the temperature of the wine and could inhibit your tasting.
NOTE THE COLOUR OF THE WINE AND TILT YOUR GLASS
Red wines get lighter as they age moving from purple, to ruby, to garnet and finally to a brick colour; white wines tend to get darker, going from lemon-green, to gold, to amber and then brown. Thick skinned grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah tend to be darker than Pinot Noir or Sangiovese, which have thinner skin. These nuances can tell you a lot about a wine before you have even smelled it. Tilting your glass at a slight angle against a white background helps make the colour more apparent.
DON’T WEAR STRONG AFTERSHAVE OR PERFUME
Human beings can identify 10,000 unique smells and most of the flavours from a wine are discerned by your olfactory system (try tasting wine holding your nose…). Strong smelling perfumes detract from your personal experience and will probably annoy the person standing next to you. When smelling, do not be afraid to put your nose in the glass. Give it a swirl first, this will help the aromas radiate.
The City PM wine club will be hosting wine tasting events throughout the year. To attend one please sign-up online at www.cityamwineclub.com