Tuesday - Cheap Wines
Tasting Wine The Next Time You Go Out
Tasting techniques and the relationship between smell and taste.
Why swish? While it was originally thought that certain regions on the tongue detected specific flavors, we now know this is not true.
The front and back of the tongue contain the taste buds and rather than specializing in a particular taste sensation, all taste buds are capable of detecting sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors, although there may be some slight differences in sensitivity. So that you get the most out of your taste buds, when wine tasting, swish the wine around your mouth, which will allow all of your taste buds (and your sense of smell) to participate in the detection of the finer flavors of the wine.
Smell and Taste
Have you ever tried desperately to detect flavor from a food or beverage when you had a terrible cold? You probably tasted very little, if anything at all. Research indicates that 70 to 75% of what we taste is actually due to our sense of smell. Specialized "aroma" nerves in the nose are necessary to identify tastes more subtle than sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Smell and taste go hand-in-hand when wine tasting . . . without your sense of smell you would be unable to detect the delicate flavors of chocolate, herbs or smoke in your wine.
Wine Tasting Techniques
Wine tasting is not just like art, it is an art. While wine tasting can be subjective in nature, wine connoisseurs follow some general "guidelines" when judging a wine. It's very easy to learn the techniques of wine tasting, and if you already enjoy wine, learning the nuances will simultaneously increase the pleasure you derive from tasting.
The three steps in wine tasting are: Look, Smell, and Taste.
Look
You can tell much about a wine simply by studying its appearance. The wine should be poured into a clear glass and held in front of a white background (a tablecloth or piece of paper will serve nicely) so that you can examine the color.
The color of wine varies tremendously, even within the same type of wine. For example, white wines are not actually white; they range from green to yellow to brown. More color in a white wine usually indicates more flavor and age, although a brown wine may have gone bad. Where as time improves many red wines, it ruins most white wines. Red wines are not just red; they range from a pale red to a deep brown red, usually becoming lighter in color as they age.
Rim color
You can guess the age of a red wine by observing its "rim." Tilt the glass slightly and look at the edge of the wine. A purple tint may indicate youth while orange to brown indicates maturity.
Swirling
Swirling the wine serves many purposes, but visually it allows you to observe the body of the wine. "Good legs" may indicate a thicker body and a higher alcohol content and/or sweetness level.
Smell
Swirl your wine. This releases molecules in the wine allowing you to smell the aroma, also called the bouquet or nose. The two main techniques that wine tasters use are:
1.) Take a quick whiff and formulate an initial impression, then take a second deeper whiff or
2.) Take only one deep whiff.
Either way, after you smell the wine, sit back and contemplate the aroma. Don't try to "taste" the wine yet, concentrate only on what you smell.
It may be difficult to describe in words when you're a novice, but after trying many wines you ill notice similarities and differences. Sometimes a certain smell will be very strong with underlying hints of other smells. Take your time. By labeling an aroma you will probably remember it better. You may even want to keep a notebook of your impressions of wines, and save the labels; next time you see the wine you won't have to purchase it to know if you like it . . . or you don't!
Taste
The most important quality of a wine is its balance between sweetness and acidity. To get the full taste of a wine follow the following three steps:
1. Initial taste (or first impression): This is where the wine awakens your senses (your taste buds respond to sensations).
2. Taste: Slosh the wine around and draw in some air (even if you do look funny in front of your dinner guests). Examine the body and texture of the wine. Is it light or rich? Smooth or harsh?
3. Aftertaste: The taste that remains in your mouth after you have swallowed the wine. How long did the taste last? Was it pleasant?
After tasting the wine, take a moment to value its overall flavor and balance. Is the taste appropriate for that type of wine? If the wine is very dry, is it supposed to be?
Some serious wine connoisseurs assign a point score to a wine to determine its quality. While this method can be useful, it is in no way necessary to determine a quality wine. The more different wines you try, and the more attention you pay to each wine, the better you will become at ascertaining and describing each wine's characteristics.
About the Author:
Gerald Crawford: born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa and the United Kingdom. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: gerald@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za
Short Review on Cheap Wines
Tasting Wine The Next Time You Go Out
Tasting techniques and the relationship between smell and taste.Why swish? While it was originally thought that certain regions on the tongue detected...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Cheap Wines Items For Viewing
Riedel Vinum Champagne (Set of 2)
Riedel Vinum Wine Glasses make every drop of wine taste its best. Riedel revolutionized glassware by customizing the shape of wine glasses to a particular type of wine. Each wine glass is fine-tuned to direct the flow of the wine onto parts of the palate that will best express the flavors and aromas of a specific wine varietal. The fine crystal offers superb clarity so you can experience the wine's color and texture. Riedel Vinum offers a comprehensive selection of varietal-specific glassware that's affordable functional and dishwasher safe. Highlighting the full spectrum of aromas and flavors offered by fine Champagne and sparkling wine the Riedel Vinum Champagne glass also preserves their elegant effervescence. The fluted bowl provides ample breathing space which concentrates the yeasty bouquet and brings out the full range of aromas. The narrow rim directs the flow of liquid to areas of the palate that recognize the creamy texture. 8 5/8'H 8 1/8 oz.
Price: 64.95 USD
Current Cheap Wines News
Throw a Cheap Wine Tasting Party
Thu, 22 May 2008 13:49:13 PDT
Have you ever spent a lot of money on a wine you didn't like? Do you feel like you don't know enough about wine to know what "good" wine is? Even the most novice wine lover can throw and enjoy a wine tasting party with friends - and it doesn't have to cost a fortune!
Cheap New York Subscription - 89.12% Off Cover Price! - Maga
Fri, 30 May 2008 03:48:09 PDT
This magazine is edited for those interested in critical examination of news, style, contemporary ideas and trends. It regularly deals with politics, business, literature, the fine arts, entertainment, home furnishings, food, wine and fashion.
The Six Best Boxed Wines Out There
Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:44:21 PDT
Are you looking for a cheap yet deliciouse wine? Learn why boxed wine may be the answer.
Amazing Poet Recites "Cheap Red Wine"
Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:40:03 PDT
Video recital of "Cheap Red Wine" by Phillip J Rhoades. Amazing.
Smoking 350 Joints a Week May Give You a Heart Attack....
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:47:41 PDT
"We're talking about people who are stoned all the time. We're talking about the marijuana equivalent of the guy in the alley clutching a bottle of cheap wine. If you do anything to that level of excess, it might well have some untoward effects, whether it's marijuana or wine or broccoli." ~~ so in essence, marijuana is not that bad for you!
Champagne on the CHEAP
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:33:20 PDT
Rose, champagne, sparkling wine, cava or maybe even a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage --any time is a good time for a bubbly. Whether you only want to spend $7 or $30 there is bubbly at every price range. Take a bottle to your next picnic or housewarming.
Wine Cabinet
New Wine
Labels: Wine Cassis
0 Comments:
<< Home