ABCS OF WINE TASTING 4s Tasting Method 4S Step SEE Tilt the glass at 45 degree angle against a white background. SNIFF Swirl, then put your nose inside the rim of the glass and take 2-3 sharp sniffs. SIP Take a small amount of wine into your mouth. Evaluation Questions Clarity, Intensity, Color Is the wine brilliant, clear or hazy? What color is the wine? Is the color pale or intense? Legs Are they pronounced-indicating a bigger body? Intensity and Identification Are the aromas faint or intense? What are the aromas? Temperature Is the wine too cold, so it seems tart, with muted fruit flavors? Is the wine too warm, so it seems alcoholic and flabby? Roll the wine around, bringing it into contact with every part of your mouth. Retronasal passages smell flavors. Tongue tastes sweet, tart, bitter. The mouth feels cloyed, gummy from sweetnees puckered, refreshed from acidity dried out, fur-lined from tannin Back of the throat feels burning heat of high alcohol. SUMMARIZE Spit or swallow the wine and record your impressions. Does the wine fill your mouth? (Think skim milk vs. cream) Is the wine light-, medium- or full-bodied? Are the flavors intense, or just barely there? What are the flavors? Are they the same as the aromas? Taste, Mouthfeel and Balance What are the tastes and sensations? Tart - pucker? Sweet - cloying? Bitter - furry, dry? Hot? Are the fruit, acidity, tannins and alcohol in balance? Or does one dominate? Is the wine s texture rough, smooth or silky? Do the flavors linger for a long time or do they stop short? Quality What is the wine s quality level? Is it well-made? Poor, good, excellent or outstanding? Is it a weekday,? Value Does the wine provide good value for the price? Do you like the wine? Would you drink a second glass? How would you describe the wine in one sentence? What stands out or makes the wine distinct, memorable? 1
ABCS OF WINE TASTING Describing Wine This chart highlights the five or six words necessary for a clear one-sentence wine description. The 4 S s Characteristic Commonly-used terms SEE Color White - Red - Rose/Blush SNIFF Aroma Citrus, tropical, berry, jammy, etc. SIP Sweetness Dry - Off-Dry - Sweet Citrus, tropical, berry, jammy, etc. Oak No Oak - Hint of Oak - Oaky Light-Bodied - Bodied - Full-Bodied Acidity Refreshing - Crisp Tannin (for reds) Smooth - Big Short - Long SUMMARIZE Quality Weekday, Weekend, Special Occasion Not so good, Ok, Delicious White Example: This Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, medium-bodied white with citrus and herbal flavors and maybe a hint of oak and crisp acidity. Red Example: This Zinfandel is a dry, full-bodied red with jammy, spicy flavors, a hint of oak and big tannins with a long finish. 2
ABCS OF WINE TASTING Grape Guide WHITES Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Origin Alsace, Germany Bordeaux, Loire Burgundy New Frontiers Australia, California, New York California, New Zealand Australia, California, many other regions AKA almost always called Riesling white Bordeaux (blend) Sancerre Pouilly-Fumé Fumé Blanc Chablis white Burgundy Pouilly-Fuissé Aromas/ s Citrus, apple, peach, apricot, mineral, honey Grapefruit, melon, grassy, herbal, mineral Apple, pineapple, vanilla, smoky, lemon, mineral Acidity to high to high Low to medium Sweetness Dry to off dry to sweet Dry Dry Light to medium to full REDS Pinot Noir Shiraz or Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Origin Burgundy Northern Rhône Bordeaux New Frontiers California, Oregon Australia, California, South Africa Australia, California, Chile, Italy, etc AKA red Burgundy Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie red Bordeaux and Meritage from CA (part of the blends) Aromas/ s Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, earth, mushroom Raspberry, blackberry, black pepper, violet, bacon Black currant, cherry, mint, tobacco, bell pepper Acidity to high Tannin Light Full Light to medium to full to full Origin: The growing regions where the grape rose to prominence. New Frontiers: The growing regions where grapes have found new homes and are used to make noteworthy wines. AKA: Throughout Europe, many wine regions specialize in making wine from one grape variety or a blend of specific grapes. These wines are often named after the growing area, rather than the grapes itself. In Burgundy, for instance, white wines are made from Chardonnay and red wines are made from Pinot Noir; the wines themselves are named after the towns or vineyards where the grapes were grown (i.e. Chablis). 3
White Wine Checklist Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay SEE Color Green-yellow straw gold amber Green-yellow straw gold amber Green-yellow straw gold amber Intensity SNIFF Aromas & s Citrus: Lemon, lime, grapefruit Tree Fruit: Apple, pear, peach, apricot, fig Citrus: Lemon, lime, grapefruit Tree Fruit: Apple, pear, peach, apricot, fig Citrus: Lemon, lime, grapefruit Tree Fruit: Apple, pear, peach, apricot, fig Tropical: Melon, litchi, pineapple, banana Tropical: Melon, litchi, pineapple, banana Tropical: Melon, litchi, pineapple, banana Floral: Orange blossom, honeysuckle Floral: Orange blossom, honeysuckle Floral: Orange blossom, honeysuckle Herbal: Hay, grass, green vegetables, mint Herbal: Hay, grass, green vegetables, mint Herbal: Hay, grass, green vegetables, mint Earthy: Stone, slate, mineral, mushroom Earthy: Stone, slate, mineral, mushroom Earthy: Stone, slate, mineral, mushroom Spicy: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice Spicy: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice Spicy: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice Nutty: Almond, hazelnut, marzipan Nutty: Almond, hazelnut, marzipan Nutty: Almond, hazelnut, marzipan Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Caramel: Honey, butterscotch, butter Caramel: Honey, butterscotch, butter Caramel: Honey, butterscotch, butter SIP A wine s flavors and aromas are often similar. Circle the flavors you can identify in the aroma section above. Taste Sweetness: Dry off-dry sweet Sweetness: Dry off-dry sweet Sweetness: Dry off-dry sweet SUMMARIZE Quality 4
White Wine Mat Sauvignon Blanc Wine 2 Riesling Wine 1 Chardonnay Wine 3 5
Red Wine Checklist Pinot Noir Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon SEE Color Purple ruby red brick amber Purple ruby red brick amber Purple ruby red brick amber Intensity SNIFF to identify aromas and flavors Aromas & s Berry: Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry Berry: Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry Berry: Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry Tree Fruit: Cherry, plum Tree Fruit: Cherry, plum Tree Fruit: Cherry, plum Dried Fruit: Jam, raisin, prune Dried Fruit: Jam, raisin, prune Dried Fruit: Jam, raisin, prune Floral: Violet, rose petal Floral: Violet, rose petal Floral: Violet, rose petal Herbal: Bell pepper, olive, mint, tobacco Herbal: Bell pepper, olive, mint, tobacco Herbal: Bell pepper, olive, mint, tobacco Earthy: Earth, mushroom, tar Earthy: Earth, mushroom, tar Earthy: Earth, mushroom, tar Meaty: Smoked meat, bacon, leather Meaty: Smoked meat, bacon, leather Meaty: Smoked meat, bacon, leather Spice: Anise, cinnamon, black pepper Spice: Anise, cinnamon, black pepper Spice: Anise, cinnamon, black pepper Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Woody: Vanilla, oak, coffee, smoky, toast Other: Chocolate Other: Chocolate Other: Chocolate SIP A wine s flavors and aromas are often similar. Circle the flavors you can identify in the aroma section above. Taste Tannins: Silk suede leather Tannins: Silk suede leather Tannins: Silk suede leather SUMMARIZE to gauge quality Quality 6
Red Wine Mat Shiraz Wine 2 Pinot Noir Wine 1 Cabernet Sauvignon Wine 3 7