Before learning the basics for a great wine tasting experience, the first rule is to have fun! Or so says Mike Heringer of Heringer Estates in Clarksburg.
"Don't be intimidated by wine," Mike said. "Wine is a natural, living organism that you should want to have fun with."
Start with holding your wine glass properly: Never grab it by the bowl because the heat of your hands will cause the wine inside the glass to quickly warm up. Grabbing it by the bowl can also leave fingerprints, which will alter the appearance of your wine. The best method is to use your thumb and first two fingers to pinch the stem just above the base.
Then gently swirl the wine around in the glass. This will allow the aromatics to volatilize and be released—and it's when you want to smell the wine to discover its nuances. This may be when you discover that some wines are "fruit forward." But what does that actually mean?
"Really, any wine, dry or sweet, light- or full-bodied, can be described as fruit forward. It means the aroma contains the smell of ripe fruit," Mike described. "It doesn't actually mean that we've added that fruit to the wine though!"
Other wines are described as "full bodied." What does that mean?
"When a wine is full bodied, it's referring to how your mouth is reacting to the tannins in the wine," Mike said. "The full-bodied part means how heavy or thick a wine feels in your mouth due to the rich tannins."
Heavier tannins mean darker wine and heavier or full-bodied wines like a cabernet sauvignon.
Mike adds the best way to learn about wine is to have fun with it, enjoy it and try new things!
"And don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions when you're wine tasting," Mike said. "That's the only way you'll learn what you like or don't like."
Cheers to that!
For more information, visit https://heringerestates.com/
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