About a wine tasting

A wine tasting is time shared with others, an exploration of the senses, and above all, a fun experience. As a wine novice, by that, I mean, I like wine, I drink wine, and with tastings, I’ve developed a liking of some grapes over others. A wine tasting is so much more than a sip, a swirl, or a sniff. It’s about thoughtful consideration of how you react to it. I was once told a Beaujolais was the epitome of French wine. After my first sip, I didn’t even wish to cook with it. My palette did not appreciate its flavor as it had for many others.

Originally, I considered diving right into a wine tasting about merlot and pinot noir. However, while writing, I felt a disconnect from what you may understand about wine. With more consideration, I realized, I could tell a person which wine I liked but when asked why, I had difficulty saying anything other than, ‘Well, I like it.” Sound familiar? I am not a sommelier. However, with a little research, I came across a lot of information to help me describe why I like it.

For instance, I not just like, but I love a chardonnay. Why? I can you tell it can be either fresh and bright or rich and oaky depending on its geography, cultivation and fermentation.

I’ll be sharing my experiences of wines with you. Monday Wines is about the tasting experience. Each Monday we explore the sensory experience of wine. Join me next week as we begin with an introduction to wine tastings.

In the meanwhile, here are two recommendations. The Chardonnay Chloe crafted by head winemaker Georgetta Dane is fresh, citrusy with soft tones of vanilla and oak. Seriously, a silky tasting wine I love to have with my dinner of fish or mussels. The Pinot Noir of Ghost Pines is a new wine to me. It is a deep beautiful red with a smooth taste. It’s reminiscent of smokey summer bbqs. If you’re looking for either a new vineyard or a new variety, these two are my suggestions for today.

Cheers.