There are so many different types of wines out there, it can be intimidating if you’re new to wine or if you’re trying to learn more. The kind folks over at Evoke Winery, on this website have given you a basic overview of what you should be looking for.
Tannins
Let’s start with tannins. Tannins are a naturally substance found in grapes and other plants. Tannins can be described as bitter and leaving a pucker feeling in your mouth. It is also what gives wine their color; the longer wines ferment in grape skins will change the color. Tannins gives red wines their backbone color, while white wines have much less tannin.
Popular red wine varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Barbera, Sangiovese.
Popular white wine varietals: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Moscato (Muscat), Pinot Grigio
Appearance
When you look at the wine you’ve just poured, it should look clear and not cloudy or powdery.
Age
Older vintage wines will have a deeper, mellowed hue, while younger wines will have a brighter lively color.
Smell
young wines should predominantly showcase fresher, vibrant smells, while older and wood-aged wines may offer some earthier notes suggesting time and decomposition. You definitely don’t want to be noticing any compost-like odor, otherwise, you might need to look for the best Compost Odor Control options.
Taste
Taste includes the different aspects listed below:
Most young whites should have a bright or assertive acidity. Young reds, on the other hand, may feature assertive tannins. Older wines typically offer a softer, rounder, smoother mouth feel. These are all widely ranging sensations, but all can be correct and good. Finally, pull some air over the wine in your mouth — how do the flavor and finish continue and expand the experience?
Balance
When a wine is in balance, none of the acidity, tannin, alcohol, fruit or other components clearly stand out.
Layers
Often, with some wines, one aspect might pop out early, but that’s not all! You may be able to detect other layers of flavor beyond the first that pops out. Perhaps a touch of chocolate or coffee in a red? This would suggest a multi-faceted wine with several layers of flavor.
Finish
Lastly, you should think about its length or finish—this simply refers to how long the flavor lasts on your palate after you drink; the longer it lingers, the better the wine. On the other hand, if the finish is really short, it’s probably not the best wine.
And remember, you don’t need to be drinking every sip if you are sampling a number of different wines, you can grab some jars from Freedomjars.ca and spit out your wine into jars if you don’t have another container.