Introduction
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century on wards. Modern, professional wine tasters (such as sommeliers or buyers for retailers) use a constantly evolving specialized terminology which is used to describe the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of a wine. More informal, recreational tasting may use similar terminology, usually involving a much less analytical process for a more general, personal appreciation.
Results contradicting the reliability of wine tasting in both experts and consumers have surfaced through scientific blind wine tasting, such as inconsistency in identifying wines based on region and price.
The results of the four recognized stages to wine tasting:
- appearance
- "in glass" the aroma of the wine
- "in mouth" sensations
- "finish" (aftertaste)
– are combined in order to establish the following properties of a wine:
- complexity and character
- potential (suitability for aging or drinking)
- possible faults.
Task
The students are going to taste and evaluate the wine using the five stages of tasting wine.
There are five basic steps in tasting wine: color, swirl, smell, taste, and savor. These are also known as the "five S" steps: see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor. During this process, a taster must look for clarity, varietal character, integration, expressiveness, complexity, and connectedness.