TASTING TECHNIQUE

NOVICE LEVEL

The world of wine seems to be a difficult world to understand. However, wine can be tasted and appreciated by all.

You don’ know much about wine but you are curious and want to discover the pleasure of tasting? This article is for you! Here you will find the first keys to wine tasting.

Enjoy it 😉…

CHOIX DU VIN

Type of wine

No need to buy fancy and expensive wines. You can purchase varietal wines or Vin de France for example.

These are quality wines without being PDO (protected designation of origin) AOP.

Food and wine pairings

We often wonder which wine to serve with a meal. In reality any wine can be drunk with any dish. However, we advise to follow the rules below.

- A powerful wine with a strong dish (Fior example a stew would go very well with our Les Sources de Montmirail Gigondas wine)
- A round wine with a standard dish. (A margherita pizza would go very well with our Petit Cochonnet Pinot Noir IGP Pays d’Oc)

The objective is not to spoil the flavors of a dish with a wine that is too strong in the mouth.

LIEUX D’ACHAT

You can find this type of wine in the retail sector and also on our website (online store part). We offer a wide range of varietal wines (Petit Cochonnet : chardonnay, grenache rosé, sauvignon blanc, merlot, pinot, etc.) and Vin de France (Voiturette : cabernet-sauvignon, syrah, grenache, chardonnay sauvignon blanc, etc.).

These wines will cost you between 3€ and 6€ a bottle. A good way to understand the world of wine without getting bankrupt !

TASTER’S TOOLBOX

When you are about to taste wine for the first time, it is best to have a few suitable tools.

Choice of corkscrew

All of the corkscrews will be able to open bottles of wine. Obviously the corkscrew will be different depending on what use you make of it : professional, personal use or occasional pleasure.

We recommend the double-lever corkscrew for tasting wine with family or friends. It is easy to use and robust.

Choice of glass

Serving wine in a glass avoids altering the taste of the wine. Contrary to plastic and cardbard, glass does not retain odors.

A glass of wine contains several parts :

- Chalice
- Foot
- Base

The shape of the glass is also very important. For example, if the same wine is served in different types of glasses (mustard glass beer glass, water glass) you will not smell the same thing.

The stemmed glass keeps the wine at the right temperature. It’s recommended to hold the glass by the stem when you taste a white wine to preserve its freshness. However, you can hold it by the chalice when tasting a red wine to warm it slightly and allow it to best reveal its flavours.

The INAO tulip type glass is the most classic/standard glass. This glass is commonly used by the winegrowers themselves to taste their wine.

The opening diameter of the glass facilitates the diffusion of the flavours. The smaller the diameter of the opening, the better the diffusion of flavours is.

Open the bottle of wine correctly

Got the right material in your hand ? Good, you can now get down to business by opening the bottle.

- Cut the capsule

First you need to remove the cap from the bottle. You have the choice between two techniques : cut the capsule above or below the ring. Generally the capsule is cut below the ring for aesthetic reasons but also to prevent wine contact with the capsule which could be oxidized.

You can cut the capsule with the screw tip of your double lever corkscrew.

- Drill the cork

We advise you to use the double lever corkscrew which is the easiest tool to use for beginners.

The corkscrew must be straight above the bottle and the screw positioned in the center of the cork. If your corkscrew is not placed correctly, your cork is more likely to break.

Turn the handle of the corkscrew until the screw is 3/4 in. Be careful not to pierce the cork . this could break the cork ior cause particles (of cork) to fall into the wine.

NB: It is the tool that must rotate and not the bottle.

- Remove the cap

Grasp the bottle with one hand and lift the wings with the other to raise the cork. Gently remove the cork to avoid splashing wine.

- Serve the wine

Serve the wine in a glass and only fill it halfway. It’s necessary that the poured wine can develop its flavours through the air. The sides of the glass thus retain the aromas for as long as possible before tasting.

TASTING ADVICE

Moderate consumption

Alcohol should be avoided in the following situations : pregnancy, driving, taking certain medications or operating machinery. These guidelines apply when wine is consumed as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle and according to the following drinking habits:

- Consume wine with your meals
- Alternate each glass of wine with a glass of water
- Avoid binge drinking
- Don’t dribnk and drive

Perception of tasting

If you are tasting wine for the first time in the company of your friends or a connoisseur, you should not be embarrassed if you do not discern the same conclusions. The feeling during a tasting is unique to each person. It’s something personal because we don’t all have the same taste.

The stages of the tasting

Tasting a wine consists of three stages: visual, olfactory and gustatory,eye, nose, mouth (Each of these three stages appeals to one of our senses).

The visual analysis is used to observe the color of the wine.

The olfactory analysis is used to determine the main types of aromas flavours that are in the wine.

- Aromas: fruity, floral, vegetal, woody, spicy, empyreumatic

The taste analysis is used to determine the structure of the wine. Leave the wine in your mouth for a few seconds and then spit it out.

- White wine: dry (acidity) or mellow (velvety in the mouth)
- Red wine: supple (melted/fine) or tannic (harsh/rough)

Tasting temperature

30/30 rule:

- WHITE/ROSE WINE: keep the wine in the fridge, take it out at least 30 minutes before tasting. In this way, they will gain a few degrees and you will drink them between 10 and 12° Celsius and not at the freezing 5° of the fridge.