OMG, so many wines! A.K.A. How to navigate a walk-around wine tasting.
When faced with a room full of bottles, arrayed for a benefit or retailer’s holiday show, the prospect of tasting can feel more daunting then pleasurable. How to know what the best wines are? How to choose? How to keep tasting without getting, well, drunk?
Casing the Joint – Take a stroll around the room’s perimeter and eyeball the wine tables. Some events will have table tents that let you know the wine theme per grouping. Other tastings will provide a handy program booklet – you can scan the pages looking for labels of interest. Don’t try to taste everything. Select a personal theme. If time and tolerance permit, return to taste wines you may have missed. Your theme could include wines you’ve read about in the Spectator, all Italian wines if you’re planning a trip, or recommendations from the pourers at each table.
How much is too much? Be realistic about your capacity. Pourers at big events are usually directed to pour a couple of ounces, a controlled portion. The idea is to taste as many different wines as possible, responsibly. That’s why it’s advisable to either spit (into containers provided for this sociably acceptable action) or drink tiny amounts. To assess a wine, the nose is the knower; you don’t require much more than an ounce to coat the sides of the glass for an effective sniff.
Cleansing the palate – It is conventional wisdom that one must purge taste buds with water or bread between sips. Balderdash! Professional tasters are hyper-aware of the length of the aftertaste. They wait patiently until the flavor subsides and then move on to the next sample. If you feel your blood sugar plummet, pull over to the food tables and munch a little protein.
It all tastes the same… After a while, especially when tasting dense, furry reds, they’ll begin to melt into one another. Just stop. Drink a big glass of water, eat a little something, take a walk outside. If you choose to resume, consider heading to the champagne-style wines or to whites. The flavors will “pop” in relief to the reds. Or, go home, driving safely all the way.
To buy or not to buy? It’s not a bad idea to sleep on it. If a retailer is running a December special with irresistible discounts, the deals will stay warm for a period of time, just ask. In the light of day, you may opt for wines that you’ll realistically drink, share or give away.
Remember – always drink responsibly. A designated driver or a car service is always a good idea to ensure a good & safe time is had by all.
Cheers!
