| Appreciation of Red Wine |
| Step 5) After chilling the wine and pouring it out, the first official step of drinking is to look at the wine. No joking!! Just look at the wine and appreciate its color. Different wine made of different varieties of grapes would have different shades of red, ranging from deep red (for Cabs) to faint pink (for white Zinfandel). Put it against a white background and try to appreciate its unique crimson tones... For beginners just look at the color and try to appreciate it� somehow lah haha! Step 6) Second step, stir the wine in your glass in circular motions. Then lower your nose into the rim of the glass and smell the aroma of the wine. Though the aroma might not be much and may appear strange to a beginner, you might start to notice some complex mix of fruits and nuts in the aroma. You may also notice the earthy or woody smell of nature in the mix. Try to remember this smell in your mind and you will soon like it the second time. (For me, a smell is as good as drinking it!! It is simply great to say the least!) Step 7) Ok, it�s now time to taste it!! Tasting wine must be slow and in small sips lah� just dun gulp it down with one mouth!! Take it slow� Experts may recommend you sipping some air in with the wine in your mouth . First notice that all wine contains much more flavors than its first difficult taste. After sipping, it helps to place the wine delicately in your mouth at the top of your tongue. Try to cuddle the wine around your tongue to fully reveal some of its hidden taste and appreciate the flavors beyond its bitterness and acidity. You can also make a chewing motion with the wine as though you are chewing on a piece of meat. Take note of the aromas that flows up your nose. You will soon discover that red wine may contain the aromas of berries and fruits and other earthy aromas of nature (for young wines). After that, swallow it� You may experience a slight burning feeling as it flows through your troat. And it�s not the end!! Try to discover its after-taste later � aromas that lingers in your mouth and can only be discovered after swallowing. You may find that the earthy or woody aroma might be even stronger in the after-taste. Aromas are one of the most important components in tasting wines. Step 8) Wallah!! You�ve got your first appreciation of wine!! Don�t forget the taste!! Keep it locked into your mind as all red wines are different and each wine is unique in its taste. This includes the bottle you bought! ENJOY!! |