Sep 30 2011
A wine tasting journey
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a complete wine tasting novice- A beginner even. My wine knowledge is growing at a pace that astonishes even me though. The most amazing change that has come has been my astronomical interest in all things related to wine. It wasn’t long ago that all I could tell you was that my favorite wine is Pinot Noir. Not a whole lot of wine knowledge in the brain of mine…
Now, in a matter of weeks, I can tell you why vintage is so important. The weather affects the grapes in various ways each year. Rainfall can play an important part in creating a great acid to sugar ratio inside the grapes. Too much rain can dilute the sugar and make for a watery wine. A bad mix of nutrients can change the internal chemistry of the grape and change flavors. I had no idea that a wines vintage would be such a big deal. With most products it doesn’t matter what year it was made- Companies typically produce consistent products from year to year in the food and beverage industries.
There are so many other great things I have learned about wine, the wine industry, wine tasting, and wineries. Wine tasting has been very fascinating to learn. Color, swirl, smell, sip, and taste- That’s my motto. And I take great notes on a Google Docs spreadsheet that goes with me everywhere. I note all the senses that the wine makes me experience. Wine tannins, wine bouquet, wine flavors, and the wine color are only the beginning. What season does the wine remind me of? Is there anything else I can relate the wine to? Do I hate, like, or love the wine? I note the winery, vintage, varietal, and vineyard if available of every single bottle in my notes. It has been an amazing journey teaching myself the different varietals, tastes, and attributes of the wine and how its creation crafted those intricacies.
It also amazes me how wine tastes differ so much from person to person. In my limited experience it has seemed like 2 people could taste the same wine and have totally different feelings about it. They may associate the smells and flavors with different good or bad experiences in their lives. They may love or hate the sensation of tannins. Some may prefer sweet wine while others like acidic wines more. There really is no such thing as a good or bad wine in my opinion- Instead, it’s may be a good or bad wine to that person. Wine education can be obsessed over on so many levels. How should you store your wine? Where were the wine grapes grown and how did the vineyard take care of their grapes? What processes did the wine maker focus on to create the wine? The list goes on and on!