We were recently invited to a Canberra Meet the Makers event by Cellarmasters. Some of Australia’s best wine makers visited Canberra for this special wine tasting event. We had the opportunity to taste up to 60 prized wines and meet some of the makers. We also got some tips for tasting wine like a wine maker, thanks to Gwyn Olsen from BriarRidge and Pepper Tree Wines in the Hunter Valley.
If you’re like me, you haven’t quite mastered the art of wine tasting YET. I mean I know I like my white wine cold and not too sweet. I also like to start me meals with a sparkling and enjoy a smooth, rich red in winter and a lighter red in summer. But I have a lot to learn in the world of wine…. Luckily we have some tips that will make us amateur wine tasters feel a little more like the professionals next time we go on a wine-tasting escapade.
Gwyn Olsen received the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Young Winemaker Medal in 2014. She was recently named one of Australian wine industry’s ‘Future Leaders’ by Wine Australia. In late 2015, Gwyn became the Head Winemaker for the well-known BriarRidge and Peppertree Wines based in the Hunter Valley and has won several prestigious accolades for the winery. Go Gwyn!
Here’s Gwyn’s tips for tasting wine like a winemaker.
1. Don’t drink coffee or smoke before a tasting
To properly appreciate a wine, your palate should be as ‘clear’ as possible. So don’t drink coffee, smoke or brush your teeth at least two hours before a wine tasting. If you need to cleanse your palate, have a piece of bread or a cracker.
2. Try the whites first & use sparkling as a palate cleanser
Try the white wines first, as this will keep your palate clean. Once you start tasting the reds, don’t go back to the whites. However, if you do end up tasting a mix of red and white varietals, use sparkling wine as a palate cleanser or a bit of bread and cheese.
3. Smell, swirl and smell again
Once you have wine in your glass, smell it – don’t swirl it around immediately, as doing so opens all the aromas and can hide the different characters. After your first smell, swirl the wine in the glass and smell again. Smelling is an important part of wine tasting, as by doing so, you are preparing your brain for the wine you are about to taste. When smelling a wine, try to associate the aromas with things you are reminded of, such as fruits, flowers, herbs and spices.
4. Tasting
Taste the wine by swirling it around in your mouth for five to ten seconds. This will warm up the wine and cover all of your taste buds. If you can aerate the wine by sucking a small amount of air as you take it into your mouth, this will allow more flavor intensity for the full experience.
5. Take note of the finish
After you’ve tasted the wine, take a moment to notice the finish. How long does the flavour last, what is the lasting taste? Does it appeal to you?
6. Ask the winemaker
At many festivals and wine-tasting events the winemaker will be there, so take the chance to ask them questions about their wine. For instance, what temperature the wine is best served, what food goes best with it, if you should cellar it and if so, for how long and what will happen to the flavour if you do so.
7. Tasting should be fun
Remember that tasting wine is one of life’s pleasures and it should be fun. Tasting is subjective and each taster is different. Don’t overthink the process, otherwise you may forget to enjoy the experience.
Feature image and image of Gwyn have been supplied.
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.