Wine tasting is one of those things that are always exciting to plan, whether you are a wine enthusiast or completely new to wine drinking. If you are joining a wine tasting event for the first time, you need to be prepared for a completely new experience.
Indeed, participants are encouraged to take notes about their favorite wines. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You will meet with winemakers and sommeliers who are excited about sharing their knowledge. Therefore, if you discover that you appreciate a specific wine, it can be helpful to find out more about it.
Additionally, experts recommend keeping your outfit simple and fragrance-free. Strong perfume could distract from the wine aroma. Similarly, if you are an avid smoker, it’s best to refresh your breath and change your clothes before attending. This will limit the risk of affecting other tasters with cold tobacco smells.
Once you’ve joined a wine tasting event once, you’ll find that you want to attend more. Wine tasting has grown incredibly popular for wine connoisseurs and amateurs. What makes the event so enjoyable?
It’s all about drinking in moderation
The wine tasting etiquette encourages tasters to use the spit bucket. While it isn’t mandatory to spit, the event doesn’t require participants to drink a lot of wine. On the contrary, professional tasters rarely drink more than a 6-oz glass of wine after a full evening of tasting. Indeed, a small quantity of wine, typically between 1 and 2 oz, is served to each participant. The quantity is more than enough to take a few sips and appreciate each wine’s unique characteristics, colors, and aroma.
Unlike opening a bottle of wine with friends, the event focuses on moderation to keep your palate clean and sharp. Wine tasting values flavor, aroma, and color perceptions, which means that tasters have no intention of getting drunk.
It’s a social event
Wine tasting is the equivalent of a collaborative classroom, where participants listen to each other’s opinions to improve their understanding of the topic. If the idea of attending a wine event worries you, remember that wine tasting is not a drinking show. Participants are knowledgeable and disciplined as they attend to improve their experience and education of wine. Rehab facilities such as Sunshine Behavioral Health warn about the risks of drinking alone, as you are more likely to develop harmful and addictive behaviors. Yet, drinking takes another meaning when alcohol becomes the excuse for a social event. Unlike parties, where the party itself is an excuse for alcohol consumption, wine tasting is an excuse for the social gathering. Therefore, individuals are less likely to focus on quantities. The event typically contributes to creating new friendships between participants, such as exchanging specialist addresses, tips, and thoughts.
It’s sophisticated
There’s something unique about enjoying wine. Wine has a language of its own, describing its unique taste, smell, and colors. Connoisseurs talk about aromas, legs, fruitness, tannin, body, acidity, etc. Wine tasting presents a unique opportunity for amateurs to get familiar with the language and debates of the wine industry.
Wine also has a unique set of rules about serving temperature, decanting, and pairing. While you are free to enjoy wine in any way you like, people expect you to follow best practices when you serve wine to your guests. Knowing and understanding these rules can make you feel part of an elite club.
Finally, wine tasting also encourages you to train your palate. There is no such thing as good or bad wine. You need to be able to isolate the unique flavors in each sip, enjoying sweet, fruitiness, floral, or oak hints as you let the tannin run on the side of your tongue.
It gives you valuable advice for future parties
Wine tasting makes you a better host, as it teaches you about wine and food pairing. Pinot noir enhances earthy flavors such as mushrooms and truffles. A salty snack needs a glass of champagne to add some refreshing sweetness. If you are serving tart flavors, such as a grapefruit and onion salad, a delicate Sauvignon blanc will elevate the experience. The bottom line: Pairing can transform your meal. When the food and the wine are matched, they can complement each other and add another layer of flavors for your guests.
It helps you understand new regions
The French call it terroir, a term that broadly refers to environmental and human factors. The terroir of a wine is the “terre”, the land where it comes from. It includes the specific climate of the region, the type of soil, the topography, and the surrounding organic life. Getting to know more about the origin of each wine can also become an invaluable source of inspiration for future travels!
Wine tasting is an all-encompassing experience that elevates not only wine but also its knowledge. Tasting opens the door to a new cultural dimension you’ve never experienced before.
