Category Archives: Tasting Basics

We are visual creatures, it’s a fact of basic biology. Nothing changes when it comes to wine. When you pour a glass, you expect to see a brilliantly colored fluid free of anything floating within it (most of the time, but we’ll get to that). Merely looking at a glass of wine can give usContinue reading “You Drink With Your Eyes”

In the example label, starting at the top, it states Grand Vin de Bordeaux, While this sounds fancy, it really just means it’s one step up from a Bordeaux chateau’s lowest quality wine. Next, we see Cru Bourgeois. This designation is unique to the area this bottle came from (Médoc of the Bordeaux region) alsoContinue reading “Translating a French Wine Label”

When you wine taste, just as when you eat, your eyes take it all in first. Pour your ‘taste’. In doing so, your glass should not be more than ⅓ or ½ full and should not surpass the widest part of the glass. This ensures you are still able to swirl the wine to allowContinue reading “Foreplay and Main Event”

The wines I have scheduled to taste throughout the year are readily available at your local wine shop or large wine retailers. Most are a bit outside the scope of a majority of grocery store wine sections. While some of them sound obscure, they are quite common. Do not be afraid of asking for assistance,Continue reading “Gettin the Goods”