I love wine. I love how the aroma changes as you swirl it in your glass. I love how the flavor develops as the wine sits open on the table. And I especially love how a beverage made from grapes can taste like honey, berries, wood, or tobacco! Galileo said that "wine is sunlight held together by water." Who wouldn't want to taste a little sunlight now and then?But I must admit that my palate is not trained; I haven't taken any wine tasting courses or spent years in pursuit of the perfect wine. I know what I like and am always willing to try something new, but that certainly doesn't make me a wine expert.That's why I love going to local wineries. For a under $10, I can taste a variety of wines (sometimes even multiple vintages) and feel comfortable trying out my wine vocabulary with the servers in the tasting room. They are kind in correcting my feeble attempts to search out apricot, strawberry, and even herbal flavors in their wines. And best of all, I am able to talk directly with the winemakers about the wine making process from soil to grape to bottle. It is one of the best wine bargains around!At a recent visit to Bellview Winery in Landisville, NJ, I enjoyed a special wine flight and food pairing that included an education in the 5 S's of Tasting. This is valuable information for anyone who wants to know more about wine, and it's certainly come in handy during my bargain wine experiment.The 5 S's of TastingSee: You are looking for clarity and brilliance, like a gemstone. The wine may be light, but it should not be cloudy.Swirl: Wines release a great deal more aroma when air is incorporated into them. At first you may not smell anything, but after you swirl, you should be able to pick up significantly more scents.Sniff: One of the many beauties of wine is that it can produce so many different aromas. For example; apricots, chocolate, blackberries, herbs or hops. Make sure you stick your whole nose in the glass (Don't be shy) and really get a good whiff. Don't detect anything? Swirl it, and sniff again.Sip: Now take a sip of your wine, no need to gulp, you really only need enough to coat your tongue. Also try to slurp it a little bit, or breathe air as you sip. More oxygen will release more flavors in your mouth.Savour: Swirl the wine around in your mouth. You are checking for balance, acidity, juiciness, and tannins. Does it dry your mouth out? Is it syrupy like honey or thin like water? Does it taste different with another sip?Repeat steps as necessary and enjoy!
