wine tasting techniques

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To identify the characteristics of wine, you’ll need to learn what the grape varietal should taste like. Tasting wine in a blind tasting format (wine is concealed) is the best way to learn about the characteristics of wine. Why this format? Tasting blind forces the taster to accept what is in the glass without any predetermined notions. To get started:

Find 9 other people who want to learn about wine Schedule 10 tasting events Identify one person as the lead for each tasting event. Identify location of each event Create themes for each tasting event (see list below) Determine if you will use your own vocabulary or use aids such as the wine aroma wheel


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You will need the following items for the tasting event: The event should be held in an area with bright lighting A white tablecloth Appropriate wine glasses for each taster (Riedel is preferred) Dump buckets Water glasses Bread and possibly cheese 9 bottles of wine selected for the specific theme Print out wine technical data, tasting notes etc. for each wine you are providing Provide paper and pen for each taster (contact us for a sample tasting form)





Open the wines about an hour before the event Place each wine in a paper bag and number it – store whites in ice Set-up the table w/tablecloth, wine glasses, bread & cheese, paper and pen, spit buckets and water Review the event theme before tasting, being careful not to disclose anything about the specific wines Pour about 2 ounces of wine #1 for each taster Have people view, smell and taste a small amount of the wine (tips for tasting white and red wine below) Write down your notes on the sight, smell and taste characteristics of the wine and draw conclusions Have some bread and cheese and open discussions on the wine just tasted Reveal wine after discussions or at end of event Repeat for each wine





Bordeaux vs. MeritageChardonnay vs. Chabli and white burgundyNorthern Rhone varieties vs. Central Coast winesMisunderstood European bubbly (Crémant and Prosecco)Champagne vs. California Sparking WineGrenache Anderson ValleyNorth of 90 points for south of $20SémillonSyrah vs. Cabernet White Rhone blends Bottles with animals on the label White BurgundySpain and Portugal tasting Old World red varietals in the New WorldOld World white varietals in the New WorldPetite Sirah (and Syrah too!)Gruner VeltlinerMalbec from ArgentinaWhite blends of three or more varietalsHoliday Zinfandels





Various Italian redsCentral California winesCarneros whitesAustralian whitesInexpensive Cabernet SauvignonMarlborough, New ZealandAustralian redsWines that start with “v”Northern Sonoma 2 Italian giants (Barolo vs. Chianti)Obscure whitesWell-aged MerlotGerman whitesProprietary blendsFrench bargain whitesItalian varietals grown in the USAMany more – Have fun!





wine tasting techniques

Self Improvement

wine http

characteristics of wine

red wine

reveal wine

wine tips

wine schedule

bottles of wine

ounces of wine