A friend of mind became a member of a wine of the month club. She told me that it was something I should learn about. She even sent me the following video.
If this interests you, check more out here. However, if you want to learn more, continue on….
I never paid much attention to wine before. To me, it was just something fancy people drank at restaurants. But my friend invited me to a wine tasting and I figured why not try something new.
When we got there, I was surprised by how many different wines there were to try. The server kept using weird words to describe them that I didn’t understand. She’d say things like “notes of blackberry and cedar” or “a full-bodied Bordeaux blend.” Honestly, a lot of it sounded like gibberish to me.
We started with the white wines. I was nervous because I didn’t know how I was supposed to taste them. Everyone else swirled their wine around in the glass and stuck their noses right in it. They’d comment on the “crisp minerality” or “lively citrus.” I took a sip of the first wine and mainly tasted…wine. But as we moved through the whites, I tried paying more attention. I noticed subtle differences in taste. One was more tart, another smooth, some fruity, some buttery.
After the White tasting, I was starting under understand the magic of wine.
By the time we got to the Reds, I started feeling more comfortable. The server suggested things to look for, like flavors of different berries or spices. I picked up some of those tastes in the different red wines. I couldn’t identify every flavor like the experts, but noticed hints of vanilla, chocolate, and smoke in some.
Some of the reds were silky while others felt heavy in my mouth. A couple really warmed me up, which I thought was cool. My friend taught me to notice how the taste changed as I sipped wine. The flavors sort of unfolded and developed. I even noticed that the tastes would change based on what I had eaten before I sipped. One of my favorite tastes came when I paired a wine called Ricord Merlot with dark chocolate. That one, I think is one that I will definitely add to my lifestyle. (Sitting in front of a fire on a cold evening, eating dark chocolate squares and sipping my wine. Is that romantic or what!!)
Throughout the tasting, it was fun talking with my friend about what we noticed in the different wines. I learned so much about the complicated process of how wine is made. I realized there’s way more to it than just grapes and yeast. The flavors are shaped by all sorts of factors I’d never considered before.
There is a huge difference between grocery store wine and fine wines!!
I also remembered how really fine wines were made versus the grocery store variety. “Cheap wine for cheap people” who don’t realize that the sweetness of the wine could be arsenic!! No, I will stick to wines that are from boutique wineries that this wine of the month club chooses. That way I will be sure to get safe wine. I wrote another page about the way the weather and the soil affect the wine. That was a big surprise for me.
I came away really impressed by the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into growing the grapes and making fine wine. Even not knowing terms like “tannins” or “acidity,” I could appreciate how no two wines tasted the same. Each one was like going on a little flavor journey.
I still have a ton to learn about wine, but this beginner’s tasting opened my eyes. I didn’t think wine could be so complex and nuanced. Now I’m excited to keep trying new styles and see what flavors I can detect. I had no idea such a simple drink could be so intriguing! Even as a total novice, I could taste and enjoy the difference between ordinary and fine wine. It felt sophisticated to be able to pick up subtle notes and textures in a glass. I’m excited to continue my wine education on this tasty new hobby.