For people working in the hospitality business or wine lovers, pursuing the necessary education and experience to become a wine connoisseur can be exciting, informative, and beneficial.
If you are planning to begin your journey, consider investing in your own wine fridges to keep your home well-stocked with various blends and makes to host your own tasting parties and improve your wine knowledge.
What is a Wine Connoisseur?
A wine connoisseur has taken their love of wine and built an extensive knowledge of the product, learning to recognize different wine styles, their aging potential, grapes, regions, and flavor profiles.
Most connoisseurs do go through formal training to further improve their knowledge and exposure to different varieties of wine, with some completing additional education to gain an official sommelier certification.
Top Tips to Become a Wine Connoisseur
For those who have decided to pursue a wine connoisseur position, most of the work you engage in revolves around tasting a comprehensive and extensive range of different wines and learning the history and composition of each.
Understand the 5 S’s of Drinking Wine
When taking a sip of wine, it is necessary to follow the 5 S’s of tasting, allowing you to better analyze what you are drinking. First, you need to see the liquid you are drinking. Examining the wine’s color will help you better understand the bottle’s age. For reds, a lighter red or brownish color indicates a vintage bottle, while aged white wines tend to be darker in color.
Before examining the wine’s smells and aromas, it is crucial to swirl the wine in the glass, which stimulates the oxidation process. This process allows the wine to reveal its aromas far quicker once it has been poured, which is particularly useful if you are not using a wine decanter.
The next step is to study the wine’s aromas. White wines typically carry a citrusy or tropical fruit aroma, while red wines showcase richer scents resembling black and red berries.
Once you have properly studied the look and smell of your wine, it is time to taste it. Take a small sip of the wine and swirl it around your mouth to properly taste every note it carries. After a few seconds, you will be able to identify and savor the variety of flavors present in the blend.
The final step is to evaluate the wine and note the various tastes, smells, and appearances you recognize, as well as the flavors you may be unfamiliar with. This will aid you in properly identifying the complete blend and the various components included.
Study Terroir
Wine experts worldwide often discuss terroir, which summarizes the climate, soil, and biodiversity of the vineyard where grape vines are planted and grown. Understanding how these elements influence grape growing sheds further light on the flavor profile of the wine.
Many advanced wine connoisseurs will study the terroir of a specific type of wine to help them analyze the effects it has on the flavor. However, having a general understanding of popular blends from across the world is a necessary part of the knowledge connoisseurs are expected to have.
The Perfect Serving
All wine connoisseurs know that serving the correct wine in the right glass significantly affects the entire wine-drinking experience. For example, red wine should be served in a glass with a wider bowl, allowing for a large breathing area.
In comparison, white wine glasses have a smaller bowl and come in a variety of different styles. A full-bodied, dry Chardonnay is best served with a wider lip, while a lighter Sauvignon Blanc will go in a glass with a thin rim. Sparkling wines and champagne are served in champagne flutes because the shape helps to preserve the bubbles better.
Furthermore, you should be aware of the correct serving temperatures based on the variety you are serving and tasting. Red wine can be served slightly chilled, around 59-64 degrees Fahrenheit. White wine has an optimal serving temperature of 50-54 degrees Fahrenheit, while sparkling wines should be served at 43-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Learn Basic Wine Characteristics
Another critical aspect of becoming a connoisseur is learning the common wine characteristics that all types of wine will carry, including tannins, alcohol percentage, structure, sweetness, and acidity. By gaining a more in-depth understanding of these elements, you will be able to make a more well-rounded assessment.
Traditionally, red wines have a higher tannin level compared to their white wine counterparts. Tannins are the phenolic compounds that are responsible for making your mouth feel dry. When wines have higher tannin levels, they are more astringent.
These higher levels of tannins typically help balance out the acidity levels of red wines, while white wines will have a higher acidity level.
Hold like a Pro
A wine connoisseur must know how to hold a wine glass while tasting. The proper method is to pinch the stem with the thumb and index finger while resting the palm of your hand on the base of the glass for more stability and control.
If you hold the bowl of the glass, you will cause the temperature of the liquid to rise quicker, you will be unable to properly swirl the glass without spilling, and you may leave residue on the glass that prevents you from seeing the color of the wine.