We'll start this record by request these two questions: "Why is wine so confusing?" and "Does choosing a wine intimidate you?" If your sass to the second query is yes, then you are not alone!
Most people have been to a liquor store or a bistro and been indubitably overwhelmed and intimidated by the sheer range and estimate of selections offered. The range of choices among wine varieties, brands, labels, and prices seem roughly infinite.
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Herein lies the problem: There are just too many choices.
So what is the clarification to too many choices?
Well, the sass in a few words is: scrutinize your own preference for wine taste.
Many people know when they like a wine. But the difficult part is comprehension why. What do you like about it, and how do you review what it is that you like about that wine? Is it light or full bodied? Is it tannic or not? What are tannins anyway? Is it fruity or sweet? Do fruity and sweet mean the same thing? And, if you try and like a Shiraz, does that mean you will like all Shiraz?
All these questions can be answered by tasting wines, and then tasting more wine! Yet tasting is not adequate as you must pay attention to what you are tasting. In my opinion, it is a good idea to learn with comparative tastings. Take for example the Chardonnay grape. It is grown in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria and also in Margaret River, Western Australia. Tasted side-by-side, you may first think that both Chardonnay's have wee in common, yet they are both made from Chardonnay grapes.
When you taste a wine of the same range side-by-side, you can indubitably begin to learn the differences in the middle of a full bodied and a light bodied wine; and a low tannin wine and a high tannin wine, etc.
Tips on how to choose a wine that is right for you
Step 1: resolve if you want a white wine or red wine
Decide whether you want a white wine, red wine, sparkling wine, dessert wine or fortified wine. This will narrow down your choices and give you some direction.
Step 2: resolve on your preferences for wine taste
Have a think about your own preferences for the taste of a wine. (Tip: Use your knowledge from your comparative wine tastings to help you.)
As a minimum, resolve whether you prefer a dry or sweet wine. (Dry is the term used to review the absence of sweetness in a wine.)
If you know your preferences for other wine characteristics, then it will also be a good idea to resolve on these. If you don't know your preferences then I have included a short record here to help you in your comparative wine tastings.
1. Low Tannins vs High Tannins: Tannins are a vital ingredient in wines, especially red wines. It comes from the stalks, skins and pips of grapes. Tannins in a young wine produce a bitter, puckering taste on the palate.
2. Short Palate vs Long Palate: The "length" of a wine is the estimate of time the sensations of taste and aroma persist after swallowing. Usually, the longer the better.
3. Low Acid vs High Acid: Acids of assorted types are gift in wine, and are important to the wine's longevity and also to your enjoyment. Too wee can affect the wine's quality and too much can spoil the wine. A higher acidity makes the wine more tart and sour tasting; whereas a low acidity results in flat tasting wine that is more susceptible to spoilage.
Acidity is that quality that makes your mouth water and your lips pucker, and without it, wines (and whatever for that matter!) taste pretty flat and one dimensional. However, when acidity is gift in the right quantities, it is the element that makes all of the other flavours in the wine stand out, along with the undertones of fruit, spice and herbs. The flavour in wine that you would review as tangy, sharp, refreshing, bracing, bright, crisp or zingy is the acidity.
4. Light Bodied vs Full Bodied: To get a photograph of the differences in the middle of a light-bodied wine and a full-bodied wine think about milk as an analogy. Light-bodied is analogous to skim milk and full-bodied wine analogous to full-cream milk, and the variations in the "body" of wne are like varying levels of fat-content in milk.
What makes it even easier, is that a wine's body is directly proportional to its alcohol content. On every wine label you'll notice a percentage of alcohol by volume. Note how it applies to body:
* 7.5% - 10.5% indicates light body
* 10.5% - 12.5% indicates medium body
* 12.5% and over indicates full body
5. No Oak vs Heavy Oak: Wines might be stored in oak barrels, normally to review extra and more involved flavours. French, American and German oak barrels are widely used in Australia. Oaky describes the aroma or taste quality imparted to a wine by the oak barrels in which it was aged. The terms toasty, vanilla, dill, cedary and smoky indicate the desirable qualities of oak; charred, burnt, green cedar, lumber and plywood review its unpleasant side.
Step 3: Buy wine that is well looked after, like at the cellar door
It is foremost to buy wine from liquor outlets that take permissible care of their wine, e.g. Buying direct from the winery's cellar door is a good option. Ultimate heat or cold, direct sunlight, and dramatic temperature fluctuations are not good for wine. Also, before you buy, make sure the wine is filled up to the neck of the bottle, the cork is not pushing out of the bottle, and there are no signs of leakage.
Step 4: Enjoy exploring the range and diversity of Australian wine
There are lots of good reasons to scrutinize all of the wines that Australia has to offer in all its diversity. Don't just stick to the familiar varieties like Chardonnay or Shiraz - experiment with other whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer or reds like Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. Also, try examples of a particular range from dissimilar wine regions to understand how regional conditions affect the wine's character. Expose yourself to every type of wine. The more you taste the more you will understand and the easier wine option will become.
Step 5: Buy by the case
When you find a wine you indubitably like, consider buying wine by the case (12 bottles). Most wineries will offer you a 10% or 15% wine allowance when you buy a case of wine or more.
Step 6: Only rely on your own taste buds
The Ultimate goal of wine buying is to buy wines that taste good to you. Just because a merchant, friend or wine writer says a wine is good doesn't mean you'll like it. Conversely, don't shy away from a wine because person else says that it is no good. The only judge of good taste in wine is you.
And herein lies one of the biggest benefits of so much choice: you are sure to find wines that are exquisite for your own unique taste buds. All you need is just a wee knowledge as described above and the willingness to explore. If you are concerned in comparative wine tasting, www.boutiquewineries.com.au may be a good place to get started.
And most importantly, be open to the possibilities and then, make note of them and learn from them.
How to select a Wine that Tastes Good - Some Tips for choosing a Wine
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