Swirl, Sniff, Sip And Spit
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday July 30, 2008
Are you off to a wine tasting or cellar door and want to know how to go about it? Sherryl Sherson offers some tips.
Start with dryer and lighter wines as you work through the varieties. For instance in whites go for a riesling or sauvignon blanc before a chardonnay. In reds, you might start with a pinot noir before trying a shiraz. Leave the sweeter style wines, dessert wines and fortified wines until last as the sugar tends to dull the palate. Before drinking give the wine a gentle swirl. Look at its colour, body and depth as these are all important steps in evaluating wine. Don't forget to smell the wine and take note of its aromas. Hold the glass properly by its stem. Most people have warm hands and this will warm the wine, which isn't good. Use the spittoon. You don't want your palate to become jaded and tired. After you've swallowed four to five wines it's harder to assess its merits. Have a pen and paper nearby to write down your comments. Was the wine sweet, dry, long-lasting, high in tannin? This provides you with a reference point. Consider attending a wine exhibition or regional celebration where you can try a range of wines and compare them to one another.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
