One of the many things that make wine tasting so interesting is that it’s an exercise to understand something intangible. When you are going for Chianti wine tasting (degustazione vino chianti), you’re not just trying to figure out what flavors are there, but also what sort of story the wine is telling.
What do the different flavors mean?
Some of the most common flavors in wine include cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, fig, apple, pear, banana, honeydew melon, pineapple, and grapefruit. However, many more flavors can be found in wine, depending on where the grapes are grown and processed.
What sort of story is being told?
The story that a glass of wine tells can vary depending on the vintage. For example, a wine from a warm year will likely taste different than one from a cold year. The vineyard’s terroir will also play a role in the wine’s character.
Why is vintage important?
The vintage is essential because it tells you about the weather conditions of a particular year. Warm years produce wines with different flavors than cold ones.
What does it tell you about where and what grapes were grown?
The vintage tells you about which grapes were harvested when, and in some cases, how they might have been picked (e.g., by hand or machine). The yeast used to ferment the wine will also contribute to its flavor.
How do you taste wine?
When you taste a wine, you want to ensure that you’re giving it your full attention. Take a small sip and swish it around in your mouth. Then, use your tongue to taste the wine all over. Finally, swallow the wine and let it linger in your mouth for a few seconds.
Eventually, wine tasting becomes less about dissecting flavors and more about opening up to the world of wine and letting it take you by the hand. It’s a journey that can be enjoyed repeatedly, each time providing new insights and revelations.