Don’t let Wine Tasting Spook You

Hattiesburg, MS

Many people enjoy sipping wine at home, although they may feel intimidated when ordering a glass of wine at a fancy restaurant or attending a wine-tasting tour because of their lack of wine knowledge. Let’s face it, when it comes to the taste of wine, IFYKYK (if you know, you know). In other words, you know if you like it or not and your opinion of a particular wine doesn’t necessarily have to correlate with its popularity, where it’s from, or how much it costs. Yet still, don’t let wine spook you this Valentine’s Day. Instead, check out these wine-tasting tips suitable for any wine drinker so that you can taste wine like a pro and feel confident when selecting your next bottle.

Choose the right glass

Technically, you can drink wine from any cup or glass, although the container that you choose will affect the wine’s look, smell, and taste tremendously. Therefore, choose a wine glass when drinking wine. Always opt for a clean, clear wine glass when sipping or tasting wine so that you can clearly see the boldness or brightness of the wine, as well as the wine’s clarity.

Swirl the wine in your glass

Swirling your wine glass opens up the wine and allows oxygen to soften the wine’s tannins, enhancing the flavor and aroma. But a gentle swirl also releases unpleasant aromas that are evident immediately after opening a wine bottle, such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or volatile acidity. Smell has an interesting connection with how the wine tastes. The wine’s rich aroma enhances its flavor. Additionally, swirling creates legs on the inside of the wine glass, which is an indication of the wine’s texture and viscosity. Just don’t swirl for more than a few seconds or you could diminish the wine’s taste and aroma.

Slip slowly

Avoid guzzling your wine or swallowing it immediately like you would water. Instead, let it linger in your mouth, observing the wine’s body or how thick it feels, sweetness, tannins (the drying sensation that some wines give off), acidity, warmth and finish (which is how long you taste the wine after swallowing or spitting it out).

Tasting wine to find the perfect balance for your tastebuds doesn’t have to be spooky or intimidating. Instead, follow our guide so that you can feel more comfortable when trying new wines or attending wine tasting events. Our advice may also help you determine which type of wines are your favorites. Be sure to make observations about the wine as you drink it so that you will better understand how to order wine at restaurants or purchase bottles from a store.

If you’d like to learn more about wine tasting or need help finding a fine bottle of wine, contact Lincoln Road Package Store by calling (601) 268-3677. Our fine selection of wine is suitable for all tastes. For more information or to contact the store directly, please email jamiefarris@gmail.com. We look forward to helping you with your next wine selection!