Must be seen then tasted to appreciate.
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Tasting Wine
To appreciate a wine, you must taste it!
- Look – The color of wine can give clues to grape varieties, place of origin and age. Look down on the wine from above to check for clarity and assess the color.
- Twirl – Swirling the wine aerates it and releases its aromas. The way it runs back down the glass may tell you something about its alcohol or age.
- Sniff – Inhale deeply and don’t be afraid to put your nose right down into the glass. Try to identify the aromas of the fruit, the flowers, the oak, etc.
- Sip – Take a generous sip, concentrating on how the wine feels in the mouth and on the tongue. Analyze the wine and search for flavors & textures.
- Maneuver – Move the wine around your mouth to reach all of your taste buds. Draw in air to carry the aromas to the back of the throat.
- Enjoy…or Spit it out – If wine tasting is the aim rather than social drinking, you need to keep a clear head. Spit out after tasting to keep your faculties at their best. Otherwise enjoy that one and the one after that. Just be sure you’re not getting behind the wheel!
As Ben Franklin said,
″In wine there is wisdom,
In beer there is freedom,
In water there is bacteria.″
Wine Basics
Here is a general overview so you can choose your wines to complement
whatever dish is being served that night or to best suit the mood of the
evening.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the undisputed king of red wines. The small, thick-skinned, dark
bluish grapes give the wine the deep red color and primary taste of
blackcurrant. Cabernet Sauvignon is highly suited to aging in oak
barrels so the flavors of new oak – vanilla, toast, spice, chocolate and
coconut are frequently part of the profile.
Key Grape Flavors – Dry Red. Mint, powerful Blackcurrant aroma, Chocolate
Food & Wine –Beef, lamb, pork and creamy pasta dishes. Great match with brie, cheddar cheese and chocolate.
Chardonnay
Just as Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of red wine, Chardonnay is the
king of white wines. It’s almost always easy to drink and is full, ripe,
fruity and smooth. Naturally low acidity means chardonnay is almost
incapable of being tart. Chardonnay takes well to oak which gives a
toasty- vanilla flavor.
Key Grape Flavors –Dry white. Buttery, Apple, Peach, Lime Walnut, Toasty and sometimes nutty
Food & Wine – Poultry, seafood, and creamy pasta dishes. Great cheeses to try are Gruyere, Provolone and Brie.
Merlot
Merlot is similar to cabernet sauvignon, but softer, lusher and less austere. It takes well to oak but has less tannin and acidity and a more plumy, blackcurrant flavor.
Key Grape Flavors – Dry Red. Fruity with plum, black cherry and mint
Food & Wine – Beef, lamb, stews, pizza and hearty pasta. Merlot is excellent when paired with chocolate.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is difficult to grow and is generally light to medium in
color with relatively low tannin and acidity. Raspberries, strawberries
and cherries mingle with roses, violets, incense and hints of oriental
spice.
Key Grape Flavors –Light Red. Raspberry, Wild Strawberry, Roses or Violets and Truffle.
Food & Wine – Pastas with red sauce and light beef dishes.
Riesling
Rieslings are fabulously light and elegant, fruity, and because of their
acidity, can age over many years and still taste fresh. This wine has
an inherent aroma, structure and balance which do not need added flavor
like oak. In fact, oak destroys Riesling’s essential integrity. The
hallmark flavors in German Riesling range from floral notes, crisp green
apples and riper fruit like peaches and apricots.
Key Grape Flavors – Sweet to Dry white. Apple, Lime and Honey.
Food & Wine – Poultry, pork, seafood, Oriental dishes and chocolate.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most distinctive white grape varieties. It has fresh, “green” aromas and is notable for its invigorating high acidity and herbal variety.
Key Grape Flavors – Dry White. Gooseberry, Apple, Cut Grass, Flowering Currant Leaves
Food & Wine – Seafood, vegetable dishes, salads
Syrah/Shiraz
Deep-colored, full-bodied, spicy-toned wines are now all the rage and
syrah/shiraz is very popular. The berry fruit taste is dense, inky and
herbal, the acidity is higher, and the spice has a vigorous whiff of
freshly ground black pepper.
Key Grape Flavors – Dry Red. Blackberry, raspberries and blackcurrants, freshly ground black pepper and spice
Food & Wine – Beef, pork, turkey, spicy dishes
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is aromatic with notably sweet, spicy fruit like ripe raspberries or cherries.
Key Grape Flavors – Dry red. Raspberry, blackberry
Food & Wine – Steak, poultry, pizza, burgers
At Holyoke and Springfield Liquor Mart, we are focused on providing the best products with the highest levels of customer satisfaction & we will do everything we can to meet your expectations. With a variety of offerings to choose from, we're sure you'll be happy shopping with us. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us. We hope to see you again! Check back later for new contests, specials and updates to our website. There's much more to come!