| When it comes to wine, there is never a dumb | | | | splashing over. While swirling your wine, this is a |
| question. When you are learning about wine, it is best | | | | good time to take notice of the color and clarity. |
| to ask as many questions as possible. Recently, while | | | | Take a small sip; swish it around the mouth and |
| on a wine tour, I overheard the woman next to me | | | | focus on the flavor or combination of flavors. Are |
| ask if Burgundy was a grape or a region. Her wine | | | | there any familiar tastes-such as vanilla, raspberry or |
| tasting companion chimed in ‘well of course it is a | | | | blackberry? |
| grape’ just as the vintner was answering her | | | | Have you ever wondered what the purpose of |
| question ‘it is a region-and all great Burgundian | | | | decanted wine was? When I was a child, I always |
| reds are pinot noir-all whites are chardonnay.’ | | | | thought that my mother was serving wine in a |
| Needless to say, the wine tasting | | | | decanter to be fancy. I did not realize that |
| ‘companion’ turned a true shade of red! | | | | decanting wine does help improve the wine. You |
| I have been on many a wine tour, and each time I | | | | can serve the identical wine, side by side and have |
| venture into wine tasting, I learn something new. I | | | | the outcome be noticeably different. Decanted wine |
| make it a point to write questions in advance, which | | | | helps, especially with the less expensive bottles of |
| in turn prepares me for the wine tour. | | | | wine. It will make the wine smoother, better |
| My original image of the wine connoisseur is of the | | | | balanced and appear ‘older’. |
| person having their nose buried in a glass, inhaling | | | | Wine tasting is one of the best ways to learn all |
| deeply. Part of the essence of wine tasting, is | | | | about wine. By visiting the many wineries, |
| indeed ‘sniffing’ the wine you are tasting, to | | | | especially those in Temecula Valley, you will meet the |
| appreciate the full effect. The human tongue can | | | | vintners firsthand, and learn all about their particular |
| only detect the five basic tastes. The human nose | | | | wines. There are so many wineries that are |
| can pick up on over a million scents. By smelling, you | | | | knowledgeable. It is the best way to talk about |
| can determine if the wine is ‘corked’, | | | | wine with those who really love the subject. They |
| meaning it has a fault. There are numerous common | | | | will discuss how their wine is made, what types of |
| faults in wine. Ask your vintner what would be a | | | | grapes are used to produce their particular wine and |
| common fault. There are many, and he will make | | | | the history of the grape. Finally, part of the fun of |
| suggestions on what to look for. | | | | wine tasting is to share it with friends and family. |
| Swirling is good and perhaps you have seen many | | | | Sharing wine is the most sociable thing. Whether |
| servers swirling wine in a glass, round and round. By | | | | you have an enjoyable time going on a wine tour |
| swirling wine, you release the fragrance in the wine. | | | | together, or enjoy a bottle at dinner-a good wine is a |
| A good way to start, is by practicing with water in | | | | great thing to share! |
| your glass. This will avoid any mishaps with red wine | | | | |