Trial and Error

Recently I enjoyed taking my now 21 year old daughter wine shopping,  she is interested in trying to figure out what she likes in the world of wine, so I thought I would do a blog for beginners!  
 There is no better way to learn about wine than through your senses and that means through tasting, smelling, seeing and evaluating.  First of all, do not be intimidated or overwhelmed at the thought of experimenting with wine...there is no right or wrong answer except coming to a conclusion about what wines you like.  One of the best ways to start learning about wine is to look at the map and identify varietals and the regions they are grown in.  This allows for development of wine knowledge and will help you to start identifying characteristics of the wines that you like.  You may also discover wines you never have tasted before and find wines you didn’t think you liked. For example, California Chardonnay can be oaky and buttery from aging in oak barrels, but Italian Chardonnay is aged in steel barrels and has a much different taste,  more and more California Chard's are being aged in a combination of oak and then steel barrels to provide an alternative experience.  The lesson here is that before you swear off Chardonnay forever, it’s best to try different ones from regions around the globe.  It takes time to develop a palate that can differentiate flavors and textures from different wine regions and I love trying new wines.  I will often browse through my favorite wine stores and seek out wines that I have never tasted.  As one of my prior posts mentioned, there is so much you can learn from first reading the label.  I have forged friendships with wine shop owners and often will ask them their opinion on a wine that I have not tried... I also trust them not to try and sell me on something they are trying to move off the floor!  Through the years I have put together a mixed cases of wines I was not familiar with or have always wanted to try and that is when the experiment begins.  I always take a lot of mental notes on what I am tasting and file it away to memory...not a bad idea to write your notes down in a wine diary to help remind you later on.  The following are a few tips to help you in your wine tasting adventure from The Wine Tasting Guide:
http://www.winetastingguide.org/

Sight
Using a white background such as a napkin or tablecloth, tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle.  Observe the color and clarity of the wine.  A white wine will have colors such as green, gold, or straw colored.  A red will have colors such as deep purple, cherry red, or hints of brown.  Now swirl the wine a few times.  As it settles observe the legs that run down the glass; the thicker the legs generally means the thicker the body (described later).

Smell

Swirl the glass for 10 to 12 seconds then smell the wine; do this a few times to get a sense of thoverall impression.  If it is a white wine, do you smell apples, pears, peaches, apricots, lime, lemon, grapefruit (these are some of the fruit characteristics of white wines)?  If it is a red wine, do you smell cherry, black cherry, plum, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry (these are some of the fruit characteristics of red wine).  There are many things you might smell; this is just a good starting point.

Taste
Now, it’s time to taste.  Take a sip of the wine and swirl it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.  Think about the texture (also called body); is it heavy or light?  Light will have a thin texture, such as low-fat milk; heavy will have a thick and coating texture, such as heavy cream.  Now think about the flavors of the wine.  Is the wine sweet, fruity, dry, or somewhere in between. What fruit or other flavors (such as oak, vanilla, grass, cocoa, mint, and pepper among many more) are prominent.

With the Holidays upon us, it is a great time to experiment!  You will find that, through trial and error you will be able to choose the perfect wine for your party or celebratory meal with family and friends, and those wines do not have to cost you an arm and a leg!

Some Holiday favorites:

2010 J Chardonnay Russian River Valley  $28.00
The 2010 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a combination of old world minimalism and new world verve. Notes of refined lemon and toasty vanilla dance on the nose, highlighted by a bright acidity.
http://www.jwine.com/



2011 Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir  $25.00
Soft and silky, with intriguing floral and crushed pomegranate aromas, this medium bodied wine was aged for nine months in small, French oak barrels which added a hint of toasty vanilla and spice complexity.
http://www.rodneystrong.com/

 2010 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel  $29.00
The nose is full of bright berry fruit and complimented by minerals and subtle black pepper. The front palate exudes raspberry jam and blackberry cobbler which evolve into richer flavors of vanilla and dark chocolate. The tannins are well balanced and approachable from a young age.
http://www.mauritsonwines.com/index.php

2008 Fritz Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  $35.00
Aromas of black cherries, fig, and plum are underlined by layered nuances of sage and cocoa. Beautifully balanced with firm tannins and piquant acidity, it greets the palate with sweet plum, cocoa powder, coffee bean, and exotic spices. Look for an exquisitely lingering finish.
http://www.fritzwinery.com/

 
Cheers!