Enjoying the mysteries of the grape
(Midwest Winefest 1999, April 1999 The Wichita Eagle special section)
"A Feast is made for laughter...and wine maketh merry." Sounds like something I might say on a Saturday night while fixing dinner for family and friends. But no, it's actually from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 10:19 to be exact. Wine has been an important part of our culture and heritage since the beginning of civilization. Seems that every week we see another article about the health benefits and mystique of this relatively simple agricultural product. I wonder if the ancient Egyptians or Greeks pondered fermented grape juice the way we do today.
When it comes to wine enjoyment a little mystery is a good thing. Regardless of the evolution of the wine-making process the mystery in each
glass adds much to the overall experience. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to extract great pleasure from wine.
Deriving enjoyment from wine requires only three abilities: that of sight, smell and taste.
Sight is a biggie, if the wine is not clear and appealing in color we may not be drawn to smell or taste it. The look of a wine is obviously the
first indication of the wine's suitability for consumption. A six-year-old white wine that is cloudy and has a brown tinge to it is probably not going
to win friends at the dinner table.
Smell is the next sense that we use along the adventure. If it weren't
for aroma, wine wouldn't be that much fun. The nose knows more than you may
imagine. When you see some wine guru swirling a glass and seemingly inhaling the beverage, it really isn't just for show. Swirling enhances the
release of all those complex aromas. At the expense of looking a bit silly, pinch your nose and take a sip of
wine. Not much there, right? You may get the warmth of the alcohol but
that's about it. Your olfactory senses will work even after the wine passes your lips. There's a back door to your nose that plays an important part.
So, if you are in a rush and miss the sniffing part, you will still get some of the enjoyment.
Now that we've seen, swirled, snorted and sniffed, we prepare to
consume. Wait a minute-not so fast. If you treat this part of the tasting
adventure as though this small glass is all that you will receive, you will
take your time and savor the sensation. Remember, we can taste only four
distinct things-sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Thankfully, not many wines
have a salty character, so sweet, sour and bitter are the primary elements.
Sweet is detected on the tip of the tongue, sour on the outside edges, and
bitter in the back. Put the wine in your mouth and move it around a bit, hold it there
before swallowing. Savor the texture and taste before you swallow. It's all
right to spit the wine into a dump bucket, you've enjoyed almost all there
is to offer.
Now you have mastered the art of enjoying this mystical and magic
beverage. More tasting, a good memory, and knowing what you like will
insure an ever-enjoyable wine adventure. Add a little moderation and you
have the recipe for "The Good Life!"
By Good Life Guy -- Host of the Good Life on KNSS Newstalk1240