Wine Tasting Tips - Wine Vocabulary
May 8, 2008
Can you give me some wine tasting tips to increase my vocabulary? I want to be able to put words to what I taste when drinking a good bottle. What common wine terms are used to describe wine in a consistent manner? - Janice in Flagstaff, AZ
Developing a broad wine vocabulary of what wine tastes like makes it possible to communicate the tastes and smells that we experience when tipping back a few glasses. Here is a quick break down of the wine terminology that relates to the most common flavors you will find.
Floral - Geranium, Violet, Rose, Orange Blossom
Spicy - Licorice, Anise, Black Pepper, Cloves
Fruity - Citrus,Berry, Tree Fruit, Dried Fruit
Vegetative - Fresh, Canned/Cooked, Nutty
Caramelized - Honey, Butterscotch, Butter
Woody - Vanilla, Cedar, Oak, Smoky
Earthy - Moldy Cork, Musty, Mildew, Mushroom, Dusty
Having the ability to put actual wine terms to what you taste can give you a lot of confidence when you’re at a wine tasting event or out to dinner with that special love interest. Remember though that sometimes just sitting back and enjoying the flavors of the wine as it wanders it’s way around your tongue are the best moments to enjoy in silence. Cheers!!
Wine Tasting Notes
April 23, 2008
Wine Virgin, I’m very new to all this but I want to know what wine tasting notes are and what’s the purpose behind them? - Pam in Salem, OR
The reason why wine tasting notes are taken to begin with is so that a person who attends a wine tasting event can comment on the particular style and flavor of a wine. There is a vernacular all it’s own that is based around wine tasting terms and here is a brief overview of what I mean.
Wine tasting notes are categorized into 3 separate events. When utilizing these agreed upon perceptions, a rough guide can be made that will communicate the characteristics of a particular wine.
- Color - Clarity of the wine when the contents are viewed in light
- Smell - Known as the “wine nose“. Also, another helpful tool to pinpoint the smell is with something called a
wine aroma wheel
- Taste - How it is perceived in by the “mouth” or “palate”, followed by the “finish”
After years of being a lover of wine, I have found that my wine tasting notes create something similar to an index. From this I’m able to have reference a wine that reminds me of previous bottle that I have enjoyed before. Also, taking these types of notes can really help you refine your senses and leads to an overall richer experience because you are able to pinpoint all of those subtle flavors and aromas. Cheers!!