THE WINE CORNER
34
Grayson Magazine
Grading Grapes A few steps to enhance the enjoyment of your wine: We’ve all seen those wine drinkers with a wine glass in their hand, sitting at the table treating it like a baton. Slightly intimidating until you realize that their just trying to utilize all senses in an effort to enjoy their glass of wine. (If you’re going to pay $40 for a bottle of grapes, it’s probably not a bad idea.) So we’ve compiled a few steps that can be applied to further enhance your next glass. Tilt, look, and examine the color of the wine. This will tell you how the wine will smell or taste as well as the age and the health of the wine. Swirl it in your glass. The air will release the aromas which will allow you to smell the subtle characteristics that the wine has to offer. Observe the legs - The legs or lines on the glass when held up to the light will tell you the alcohol level of the wine. Smell it - Breathe in the distinct aromas of your wine. Your nose is a compliment to your palate, so smelling it is the awakening of the senses before the taste. Take a sip but do not swallow yet. Instead, keep the wine towards the back of your mouth. As you sip your wine pucker your lips and softly slurp the wine which aerates and releases the flavors and aromas all at once. Enjoy the aftertaste. The longer the flavor stays in your mouth signifies the overall quality of the wine.
Happy gargling! Henri Fournier Grayson Magazine
Grayson Magazine
35