Wine
What to Ask AT A WINE TASTING By Linda Barrett
No matter how much you know about the varietals, and feel free to ask your server wine, there is always something more to or the winemaker. learn. An excellent way to both experience Virginia’s wines and It’s fun to rely on What should I be tasting with this wine? expand your knowledge is to atyour own palate tend a wine tasting. If you’re in It’s fun to rely on your own palto see if you can luck, the owner or winemaker ate to see if you can pick out may be present, and they love to pick out the earthy the earthy or floral notes in a talk about their wines! and afterwards refer to or floral notes in wine, the tasting notes. Notice which Whether it’s your first visit to a a wine, and aftertastes you experience first, and local winery, or you have years wards refer to the which come later on the finish. and bottles under your belt, here The tastes can change throughare the most common questions tasting notes. out the taste profile. Smell also to ask a wine tasting. plays a role and is an important What types of grapes step in the wine tasting process. were used to make this wine? Experience the “nose” of the wine prior to tasting. Wines can be identified on their label based on the type of grape used. For example, a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. At other times, winemakers combine a blend of grapes to create an entirely new wine experience. Check the wine notes to see if they identify
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TYSONS PREMIER v Late Summer 2021
How was this wine aged? The aging process can make a big difference in the taste of a wine. Wines may be aged in oak barrels of French or American Oak, or steel tanks. How long a wine has aged and VIVARESTON.COM
