Wine 101
There are many people who believe they know all there is to know about wine. However, unless they're experts, growers, or professional wine tasters, they probably have an extremely limited view of wines. There are many differences in the varieties available. Here is some basic information about wines that can help you learn more about them.
Of course, an article can only give you so much information. If you're looking for more, consider visiting your local winery and talking to the owners, looking online for more basic wine information, or checking out a book on wine tasting or production. There's a wealth of information available about wine.
There are two major varieties of grape wine. These are red and white wines. They have distinctly different tastes. Collect a few different reds and whites to give them a try. Each wine will have its own character and flavor. Remember that some wines are meant to be served at room temperature, while others must be chilled. Be careful not to mix them up, or you won't be able to taste them the way they were meant to be enjoyed.
When tasting wine, you should first pour a small amount into a glass. Swirl it gently within the glass to make sure that it is properly mixed. They hold it up to the light and have a look at the clarity of your wine, and see how long it takes for the dregs to filter down into the bottom of the glass. This indicates the quality of the wine you are tasting.
Always smell your wine when tasting it. First, just take a quick sniff, and consider all the flavors that may be present in the wine. Swirl the wine in the glass again and smell it once more, since you want to try a thoroughly mixed beverage. There are many different kinds of flavors described by professionals. A wine may be oaky, taste of a certain fruit, or any number of a wide variety of flavors.
Then, take a small sip of the wine. Hold it in your mouth for a little while, considering all the flavors, then swallow. This will allow you to fully partake of all the interesting flavors your particular glass of wine has to offer. Then, you may freely drink the rest of the glass. Sipping is preferable to gulping, as it allows you to enjoy the wine more. Try many different varieties this way and see if you can identify the differences!