Wine Tasting

There are probably as many perceptions about wine tasting as there are tasters. For some, it is a charade; it can be an expression of cultural heritage; it may increase self-esteem; but primarily, it is a means of enhancing wine appreciation. Most people taste wine holistically and strictly on a subjective basis. Wine competitions are more objective, ranking wine against some standard—the grape variety, geographic region, production style, or artistic attributes. The latter include features termed complexity, harmony, subtlety, dynamism, development, duration, and uniqueness. The most objective form of tasting is descriptive analysis. In it, panelists are trained and selected for their use of specific sensory terms. These are used to describe the wine analytically. All tasting forms have their particular purpose and merits. However, ...