What is it and how to do a wine tasting

Wine tastings are a gastronomic experience that generates a lot of curiosity. On the one hand, there is a group that has already tried them and enjoys them whenever they can and another that would like to do it, but do not dare. And it is that wine tasting is wrapped in a cloak of beliefs in which it is thought that a lot of technical knowledge is needed to be able to do it correctly.

If someone has wanted to attend a wine tasting and this type of thought has stopped you, at Bodegas Altanza we will explain what exactly a wine tasting is and what you can expect from it. So you will enjoy it in a relaxed and placid way.

What is a wine tasting

The verb tasting refers to tasting a drink or food , perceiving the elements that form it with the five senses, especially with sight, smell and taste.

In a guided or personal wine tasting, guests are expected to savor the wine while an expert guides the event and the actions that take place in each phase. Usually the connoisseur is a professional wine taster or a winemaker from a particular winery.

Since in the tastings perceive very ethereal and changing sensations, the room in which the experience is carried out must be controlled to the maximum so that odors other than wine, light or even temperature do not distract the taster and affect his ability to taste the flavors, aromas and textures. This is even more important in the case of a professional wine taster, for whom the color in which the room is painted can be checked because it could alter its concentration.

Whichever wine tasting you decide to go to, all of them follow a series of steps to discover the quality and personality of a wine.

How to do in a wine tasting

When you do a tasting of a certain wine you get to know it better, and to be this you only have to allow your sight, smell and taste to appreciate the flavors they are feeling. Since we can all do this, you can also taste without problems.

Because the sensations vary enormously depending on our state of health, the emotions that we are feeling, and the memories that we associate with certain flavors; There is no wrong answer in a tasting, so don’t be afraid and dare to discover the wines.

Wine tastings follow a series of logical steps that coincide with the study and tasting of any food: a visual stage, an olfactory stage and a stage in the mouth.

Visual stage of wine tasting

This is the moment when the colors of the wine are appreciated. For this we will take the glass by the foot so as not to heat the wine with our hands. From there, we tilt the glass to contemplate its color, pointing the base towards our body, so it will be in front of us and we will observe them better. In this position we will be able to notice that there are three well differentiated areas : the superficial one that has little liquid, in the center where there is a greater amount and on the sides where shadows are formed.

From these three areas we can draw many conclusions such as:

• The intensity of the color.
• The liveliness.
• The hue of the color.
• The fluidity and mobility.
• The clarity or cloudiness, also known as the presence of solid particles in suspension.

• The effervescence or tranquility in the case of not having carbon dioxide gas.

Wine tasting: olfactory stage

This phase is done in two stages. In the first, he puts his nose in the glass without shaking, to capture the primary aromas of the wine , or what is the same, those that come from the variety of grapes, the climate and the soil.

In the second phase, we will shake the wine in the glass with confidence to oxygenate it and perceive the secondary and tertiary aromas more easily, the secondary aromas being those that come from the preparation and fermentation of the drink and the tertiary ones from aging in the barrel and cellar.

The aromas perceived are very personal, but in general they are classified as: animal, wood, chemical, spices, vegetable, floral and fruity.

Gustatory stage of a wine tasting

This is the third and final phase of the tasting in which We will sip a little wine and, in a disguised way, we will walk it through our mouths to taste its freshness or acidity, the intensity of its flavors, its aromatic richness, its astringency and duration of all these sensations.

The movement of the wine is carried out to perceive all the notes of the wine , since depending on where it is located on the tongue, some flavors may be captured and not others. Thus, on the tip of the tongue we will feel the sweet, the bitter in the center, the salty on the edges and the acid on the sides.

Once all these sensations have been appreciated, it is convenient to remember them and write them down so that in the next tasting we can contrast them and continue learning.

Where to do a wine tasting

There are many places to do a wine tasting, and you can even do it personally by buying your favorite wine.

But if what you really want is learn the art of tasting , you can participate in a wine tasting , in our wineries , in which we will first teach you how we grow and care for our vines, and then we will show you the aging process of our wine to obtain a product of excellent quality.

At Bodegas Altanza, we will be happy to show you the exciting world of winemaking. Do not hesitate to contact us.