Wine Tasting for BeginnersFor a newcomer interested in experiencing wine for the first time or even for the occasional drinker, wine may seem to cater only to a stuffy upper class-yuppie crowd, when in reality it is far from the truth. Granted, wine does attract a sophisticated like crowd, but more and more regular people often go wine tasting in groups of guys, groups of girls, and couples alike.
Wine tasting is a time for friends to get together and enjoy each others company to change up the monotony of the usual night out. Wine tasting is comparable to going out to a sports bar drinking micro brews to hang out and pass the time.
Usually, wine tasting is a full day experience, going from one winery to another. This is what makes wine tasting fun. The obvious difference is the atmosphere. While beer pubs and breweries may seem to encompass a “men’s only” atmosphere along with sporting events on large TV screens, chicken wings, burgers, and pizza, these places tend to attract the majority of males, while wine tasting rooms often attract a all sorts people from all generations and all demographics. Wine tasting is more public friendly than it has ever been and anyone is welcome.
How to Enjoy Wine
For a first-time wine drinker, wine is definitely an acquired taste and is commonly not enjoyable during your first encounter. Your very first glass of wine, you may experience a pungent sensation and probably disgust, while others adapt to it rather quickly and love it. Usually a person’s first experience with wine is typically a mixture of fruit and sugar combined together with some sort of white wine, like wine coolers, or the popular wine fusion beverages, like White Zinfandel, Boone’s Farm wines (which is malt based, not wine based as advertised). These types of drinks are not considered wines. As your taste buds mature, your tolerance changes, and so does your state of mind. At this point, wine can be quite enjoyable. As your palate develops, you can distinguish the many flavors that many will define a good wine.
The way to enjoy wine is to smell, sip, and taste. To do so, fill a long stem glass only ¼ of the way or less for tasting. Long stem glasses are designed to keep your hands from warming the temperature wine. On a flat surface, rotate the glass in a circular motion. This allows the wine to circulate around the bottom of the glass. This oxygenates and releases the tannins, which lightens the body of the wine and helps get rid of the sharp bitterness.
Next, smell the wine. Inhale the aroma of the wine and picture in your mind what you sense. A lot of time, you will smell a bouquet of rich flavors of fruit, chocolate, different spices, and other flavors. Every wine is different.
Now, take a small sip of wine into your mouth and swirl it. Do this for half a second or two to enjoy the rich flavor and allow you to discover the hidden tastes behind the wine.
Tasting Rooms
Tasting rooms are everywhere. There’s at least one in each town. Wineries will have one tasting room for the public to sample and purchase all the wines that their vineyard offers. Each one is different. Most will carry a menu for you to browse so you can decide if you want a glass, or tour the different types of wines. For instance, you can select to taste the “whites”, “reds” or the “sparkling wines (champagne)”.
The costs will vary. In some winery locations, while rare, will allow you to try their wines for free. Many will charge a tasting fee which will be from $2 per taste to $4 or more per glass. Some annual wine events will have over 30 venders or more from all over and the charge is typically $30 or more per person and they give you a glass to carry with you through the entire event. You’ll have a chance to sample every wine from each vineyard.
California Wine Tasting
Napa Valley – Napa Valley is a widely known favorite among many across the world. With a choice of 341 wineries from the Andretti Winery to ZD Wines, there are many places to choose from. Napa is also a romantic place to take a loved one on a date, for engagement, or even for a honeymoon. There are several Bed-in-Breakfast inns to make your trip a more memorable experience.
http://napavintners.com/events/list_all_events.asp
How to Enjoy Wine
For a first-time wine drinker, wine is definitely an acquired taste and is commonly not enjoyable during your first encounter. Your very first glass of wine, you may experience a pungent sensation and probably disgust, while others adapt to it rather quickly and love it. Usually a person’s first experience with wine is typically a mixture of fruit and sugar combined together with some sort of white wine, like wine coolers, or the popular wine fusion beverages, like White Zinfandel, Boone’s Farm wines (which is malt based, not wine based as advertised). These types of drinks are not considered wines. As your taste buds mature, your tolerance changes, and so does your state of mind. At this point, wine can be quite enjoyable. As your palate develops, you can distinguish the many flavors that many will define a good wine.
The way to enjoy wine is to smell, sip, and taste. To do so, fill a long stem glass only ¼ of the way or less for tasting. Long stem glasses are designed to keep your hands from warming the temperature wine. On a flat surface, rotate the glass in a circular motion. This allows the wine to circulate around the bottom of the glass. This oxygenates and releases the tannins, which lightens the body of the wine and helps get rid of the sharp bitterness.
Next, smell the wine. Inhale the aroma of the wine and picture in your mind what you sense. A lot of time, you will smell a bouquet of rich flavors of fruit, chocolate, different spices, and other flavors. Every wine is different.
Now, take a small sip of wine into your mouth and swirl it. Do this for half a second or two to enjoy the rich flavor and allow you to discover the hidden tastes behind the wine.
Tasting Rooms
Tasting rooms are everywhere. There’s at least one in each town. Wineries will have one tasting room for the public to sample and purchase all the wines that their vineyard offers. Each one is different. Most will carry a menu for you to browse so you can decide if you want a glass, or tour the different types of wines. For instance, you can select to taste the “whites”, “reds” or the “sparkling wines (champagne)”.
The costs will vary. In some winery locations, while rare, will allow you to try their wines for free. Many will charge a tasting fee which will be from $2 per taste to $4 or more per glass. Some annual wine events will have over 30 venders or more from all over and the charge is typically $30 or more per person and they give you a glass to carry with you through the entire event. You’ll have a chance to sample every wine from each vineyard.
California Wine Tasting
Napa Valley – Napa Valley is a widely known favorite among many across the world. With a choice of 341 wineries from the Andretti Winery to ZD Wines, there are many places to choose from. Napa is also a romantic place to take a loved one on a date, for engagement, or even for a honeymoon. There are several Bed-in-Breakfast inns to make your trip a more memorable experience.
http://napavintners.com/events/list_all_events.asp
Lodi - The central valley is where many of the best wineries reside. 18% of all California grapes come from Lodi. There are 24 wineries including the well known Woodbridge winery, Pasos Vineyards, and Delicato Family Winery. Held every year, Lodi holds two of the largest wine festivals during the month of March called the Lodi Spring Wine Show and the Lodi Grape Festival which is held during September every year. http://www.grapefestival.com/LodiGrapeFestival/Default.aspx
http://www.grapefestival.com/LodiSpringWineShow/Default.aspx
Murphy’s – Located in Northern California, home to the four star, Ironstone Winery. Come visit during the summer months and enjoy a full day of wine tasting, good food, and perhaps end your day with a live concert.
http://www.visitmurphys.com/
Murphy’s – Located in Northern California, home to the four star, Ironstone Winery. Come visit during the summer months and enjoy a full day of wine tasting, good food, and perhaps end your day with a live concert.http://www.visitmurphys.com/
Monterey - Monterey is known for one of the largest wine festivals on the west coast. Held during the month of October, over 90 wineries congregate together for the festivities with over 400 varieties of wines for you to choose from.
http://www.montereywine.com/
Paso Robles – Famous for scenes in the movie, “Sideways” and home to the well known “Firestone” winery. Paso Robles is also home to 170 wineries. While this area is a highly concentrated of wineries, you may be inclined to take several trips to experience everything Paso Robles has to offer.
http://www.montereywine.com/
Paso Robles – Famous for scenes in the movie, “Sideways” and home to the well known “Firestone” winery. Paso Robles is also home to 170 wineries. While this area is a highly concentrated of wineries, you may be inclined to take several trips to experience everything Paso Robles has to offer.
Temecula – Come join the festivities at the Wine and Music Festival coming on May 2nd. There are 20 wineries in the Temecula area and all the wineries have tasting rooms to come visit. Plan your tasting tour: http://temecula.winecountry.com/wineries/
Wine Festival: http://www.temeculawineandmusicfestival.com/
Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara is a local hot spot for Los Angeles natives and others around the country. There are 50 wineries with tasting rooms within a 10 mile radius. During the month of June, purchase tickets in advance and taste from 70 wineries from the central coast.
http://www.santabarbara.com/goto.asp?url=http://www.sbnature.org/winefestival.
The best part of wine is enjoying it with friends, family, or enjoy with someone special, so relax and have fun and remember to drink responsibly.
Wine Festival: http://www.temeculawineandmusicfestival.com/
Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara is a local hot spot for Los Angeles natives and others around the country. There are 50 wineries with tasting rooms within a 10 mile radius. During the month of June, purchase tickets in advance and taste from 70 wineries from the central coast.
http://www.santabarbara.com/goto.asp?url=http://www.sbnature.org/winefestival.
The best part of wine is enjoying it with friends, family, or enjoy with someone special, so relax and have fun and remember to drink responsibly.Stay tuned for my next piece. I will discuss, “What wines goes with what foods?”
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