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2. SwiRl aNd SniFf
Your senses of smell and taste are closely intertwined, so take the time to sniff a glass of wine. Swirling the wine in your glass opens up the wine (that’s wine speak for letting in air) and helps you take in the aromas. Place your glass on a flat surface and swirl the wine. Then quick - put your nose inside the glass and give it a good sniff. What is the first aroma that comes to mind? Is it a fruity or woody scent? Wines that are oak aged sometimes smell more like spices and wood than fruits; so don’t limit your thinking to raspberries or blackberries. You could also smell cinnamon, cloves or vanilla due to the oak aging. Some wines even have vegetal scents like grass or green peppers.
Grapes, like other fruits, have unique characteristics depending on the type (varietal). Think of apples – there are hundreds of different apple varieties, each with a unique flavor and aroma. Grapes are no different – some are sweeter or fruitier; while others are more tart or vegetal by nature.
I don't think the commonly held notion that the bigger your nose the better you sniff is true. What do you think?
Cheers! Rebel Red |
