Thinking back to my first time attempting to sip a glass of wine, I was 11 years old . My aunt had gone to the restroom and like any curious adolescent, I just had to sneak a taste of her wine. I remember it like it was yesterday...a plastic cup of Carlos & Rossi Chablis.
I also remember the God-awful taste of the chablis...
...that made me cringe and damn there left me scarred!
Ten years later, I started working in the hospitality industry and in order for me to optimize my product knowledge to its full potential, I had to learn wine. Learning wine also meant tasting wine too. I tried a pinot noir when I was out one night at martini bar. Once again...
So another year of bullshi××ing my guests into purchasing our "featured" wine, but I wasn't understanding what the hubbub was about with the gross beverage. All I knew is that you got a buzz. I didn't know how to confront my fear of the taste of wine. I knew once I understood one concept, the other concepts would be golden.
I took the first step and talked to one of the reps in our store and EVERYTHING he shared with me about wine came to pass. Isn't that something? Spreading knowledge about wine is like spreading the gospel!
Here is what he shared:
1. Have food when tasting wine! Food is very important when trying wines because flavors offset each other. For example; reisling, moscato, spatlese, and gewurtraminer are white wines that are light, fruity, and sweet but also known for their spicy finish due to white or red pepper nuances. This allows you to enjoy the distinct flavors of both the food and the wine. Make sure you are pairing red meats and red sauces with red wine, and white sauces, white meats, or seafood with white wines.
2. Close your eyes and savor each sip. They say distractions can prevent you from absorbing the important things around you. Sniff the wine. What do you smell? Think food. Think earth or soil.
As you prepare to take a sip of your wine, try closing your eyes. Let your mind go blank and let your ears drown out the sounds around you. Take a sip of water beforehand so your taste buds can accept the flavor that is about to explode in your mouth. Take the first sip and hold the wine in your mouth for a few seconds. Slowly let the wine ease its way down to the back of your tongue, slowly descending down your throat.
3. Wine labels aren't printed just for show! Wine vineyards aren't printing labels just for the hell of it, fellow Steemians. Trust me! They are useful bits of information and education for us consumers. When I was baffled about whether or not I would enjoy a wine, I turned to the back of the wine bottle and read the back label and guess what?
Aha! Is that the flavor I taste in the wine? Is that the food I am suppose to pair with this wine? It works every time!
Please take my advice; advice I learned from a level one Wine Sommelier (Certified Wine Expert) and my wine sales rep. He told me to always open my mind to the world of wine. There is so much to absorb!
Please read this post thoroughly. Share it with your friends and please, please share and Resteem. I guarantee you will taste...and see wine in a new light.
My fellow Steemians, please drink responsibly!