If you plan to attend a wine tasting OKC, you may be interested in finding out how you can truly appreciate a wine’s flavor. While following the four S’s of wine tasting is an excellent way to begin, there are more factors to consider that can help you expand your palate and improve the overall tasting experience.
Four Elements of Wine Tasting OKC
The next time you sample quality wines on Oklahoma wine tours, consider these four basic elements:
1. Appearance
The first hints about a wine’s flavor come from observing its appearance, specifically, its color, clarity, and depth. To get the best view, either hold your glass up to the light or tilt it against a bright tablecloth. The most obvious part of the appearance is the wine’s color:
- Red wines range from deep ruby and red-purple to bright red or amber-brown.
- White wine varieties range from straw and gold to yellow-green or light brown.
A closer inspection will help you find more clues about the wine’s flavor. If a wine is well-made and properly stored, it will have a sharp clarity. If it looks cloudy or a film is present, the bottle has spoiled. After checking this, swirl the glass to observe its viscosity.
2. Bouquet
A wine’s scent is its “bouquet.” Your sense of smell significantly impacts your sense of taste, so this factor can help you choose a bottle when you want to buy local wines. To appreciate the complexity of the bouquet, you will consider its scent more than once:
- The first smell should occur shortly after pouring the glass so you can gain your first impression.
- Swirl the glass to increase oxygen exposure, then smell it again to appreciate the new components.
As you observe the bouquet, you can start determining its attributes, such as its sweetness, dryness, and flavor profile. Considering these before you taste will help you appreciate the wine’s unique flavor.
3. Taste
Once you have observed the wine’s appearance and considered its bouquet, your palate is prepared to taste it. Slowly sip the wine and hold it in your mouth, gently swirling it so it can cover your entire tongue. Whether you swallow the wine or spit it into a bucket, tasting in this way allows you to truly appreciate its unique flavor profile while you consider its:
- Acidity: this factor refers to the wine’s “pucker” or tartness.
- Alcohol: a higher percentage often yields a bolder flavor.
- Softness: this factor helps determine the wine’s mouthfeel.
- Astringency: grape seeds in red wines cause a dry sensation.
4. Aftertaste
Whether you swallow the wine after sipping it or spit it into a bucket, you can further define the quality by observing its aftertaste, also known as its finish. As such, considering the aftertaste will help you make the best choice when you buy local wines. A high-quality wine enjoyed at its optimum maturity will have a long and pleasant aftertaste that lingers from 15 to 20 seconds after drinking it.
Interested in Oklahoma Wine Tours?
Whether you are new to enjoying wines or are a long-time attendee of wine tastings, you are sure to find some new favorites when you go to Oklahoma vineyards and wineries. Next time you plan a wine tasting trip, make sure to visit some OGIC members.