This is the second installment of our piece on how to better enjoy your wine. Find the first part here.
Step Three: Take Your Time
You’ve poured yourself a nice glass of red. You’ve noticed its color, swirled it, breathed it in, identified in your mind what the aromas remind you of. Now it’s time to taste — and take it slow.
DO: take a sip, but…
DON’T swallow right away. Hold the liquid in your mouth and take a moment to notice what you taste at first.
Wines can be complex and layered, and very often you’ll notice one thing immediately; but then as you move the wine across your tongue, your tastebuds will pick up other notes. You might notice some of the same things you smelled, or you may discover something entirely new. Even after you do swallow, take note of the flavors left behind. Some wines will show even more flavors on what’s called the “finish” — the last remnants of taste left behind.
Next…
DO: ask yourself, what do I taste? Is it fruity? Like strawberries or like blackberries? Citrus or melon? Do you taste an earthiness, or saltiness? Maybe you’re getting hints of chocolate, or coffee, or even pipe tobacco or tar.
DON’T: try too hard. Let your mind wander, and don’t judge any idea that pops into your head as too crazy. Wines will surprise you with the extreme variety of flavors that can somehow be coaxed out of humble grapes. They can have a lot to say.
But to hear what they’re saying, you have to let the wine speak, and you can’t do that by guzzling that juice. When you drink a beer, it’s easy to swig it quickly, icy cold and going down easy. Same thing with a cocktail, especially one that’s sweet and super easy to enjoy. Wine is different. It begs to be savored, slowly and evenly, to give it a chance to say everything it has to say. Wine isn’t like other alcoholic drinks; there’s a reason it’s known as the drink of the gods. So much has gone into the production of that juice in your glass, it would be a shame to knock it back too quickly and miss all of the beauty.
So force yourself to slow down when you taste wine. Let all of your senses experience what that bottle has to offer. From the color to the aroma to the taste, it all tells a story about where that juice came from and how it got here. Don’t rush it! Sip it slowly and deliberately, and I guarantee you you’ll enjoy it more.
Happy tasting!
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
There is an entire vocabulary that wine people like Charlie like to use — I’ve even written a handy guide for you — and knowing those words can help you identify commonly noticed flavors and characteristics. But ultimately what’s important is your experience and enjoyment, so however you choose to express that is just fine.