The clarity of a wine refers to its ability to reflect or absorb light.  Observing the clarity of white wines, and sparkling wines too, is pretty straight-forward.  The wine should be shiny and you should be able to see through it.  It’s a bit more challenging with red wines, though, simply because of the darker color of the liquid.  Tip the glass away from you and against a white background.  You should be able to see a shine within the red hue.  Wines that have gone bad may have a lack of clarity, such as cloudiness or murkiness observed in the wine.

Next, check a wine’s color by contrasting the liquid against the white background.  Tilt your glass a bit and note its intensity.  Light-bodied red wines such as Pinot Noir and Gamay, for example, range in color from lighter, brighter magenta to garnet, while their full-bodied counterparts, such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon will be a deeper burgundy color and more opaque in appearance.  White wines tend to deepen in color as they age.  A young Pinot Grigio may have an almost green hue to it, while a rich golden color lends itself to an oak-aged Chardonnay.   If you notice a bluish rim on a wine, don’t be alarmed.  This may occur in a lower-acidity wine such as Syrah.

The consistency of a wine can also be used to assess it.  Examine the thickness of the wine by swirling the liquid around in the glass and observe the “legs;” the size and the width of the legs, paired with the speed at which they move down the sides of the glass, can tell a couple of things about the wine.  While some believe that more legs equal a better wine, in reality it is rather a direct correlation to the alcohol and sugar content of the wine you are observing.  Thin, quickly-moving legs point to a wine that is lighter in body, lower in alcohol, and without residual sugar, whereas thicker, slow legs are a determinant of a fuller-bodied wine that has a higher alcohol content.

So always, when you are looking for a spectacular wine to enjoy, take the time to really look at what you have in front of you.  Although it seems like a lot, the process really should only take about 30 seconds.  And you will not be sorry that you took that half a minute to evaluate the look of the wine.  It can tell you a lot about the wine before you move on to the next important aspect of wine tasting:  the smell.

The post What’s Your Wine? Evaluating with the Eyes appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Evidence of early wine-making reaches back to somewhere before 6000 BC, likely in China, and became widespread not long after. While it is known that “the earliest realization of the delights of wine has not been dated,” it is reasonably understood that the encounter with fermented grapes was a certainty—the yeast on the skins of the grape make fermentation unavoidable. In ancient times the key would have been to consume the resulting wine at the premium time…after the grapes had fermented but before the resulting liquid was turned to vinegar. Archaeologists believe that wine drinking started possibly earlier than 6000 BC but the oldest indication of wine production—an early version of a winery—was discovered in the “Areni-1” cave in Armenia, dating to about 4100 BC. There, archaeologists found fermentation vats, jars and cups for storage, and a crude wine press. The discovery suggests that it is probable that, like wine drinking, the technology also predates this site, although it is not a certainty.

Religious rituals utilized wine, more than likely, because of its mind-altering capability. The release of one’s inhibitions gave a sense of being near a deity, and the subsequent euphoria induced by drinking wine was related more to that nearness to a god than to the wine itself. As technology improved and trade increased, wine making expanded westward where its consumption “permeated all aspects of society: literature, mythology, medicine, leisure, and religion,” according to an article from Cornell University. Wine eventually became a valuable commodity, used as medicine, as a mind-altering substance, as a part of cuisine, enjoyed by the kings and royalty, by religious leaders and participants in religious ceremonies, as a remedy to comfort the depressed or to relax the agitated. Additionally, there are economic advantages to wine that extend into modern society: vines produce a crop with an ever-ready market…a permanent and probably increasing market is virtually guaranteed.

Today we use wine in many of the same ways as those in ancient times. Many religious rituals call for the use of wine, and there are numerous health benefits to sipping. And yes, it is still consumed for its mind-altering capability. But we also drink wine for pure enjoyment, relished for its complex taste and aroma, and for its ability complement a meal when properly paired.

With a history as rich and complex as the wine itself, it’s easy to see why this alcoholic potable has stood the test of time. And knowing how to appreciate the subtle nuances of wine, how to tease out the intricate aromas and flavors may enhance your enjoyment. Check back in the following weeks as we examine the basics of wine tasting, beginning with how its appearance plays a role in the overall wine experience.

The post What’s Your Wine? A Brief History appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Over the next several weeks I will be taking you on a “wine journey,” imparting some elemental information about wine to give you a deeper understanding of the characteristics of your favorites or help you learn to tease out some of the subtleties of new wines that may result in becoming a new treasured accompaniment to your next dinner.  Whatever level of understanding you are at or hope to accomplish, join me as we delve into some wine basics.  Here is a list of tasting terms that may help along the way:

Acetic:  acetic acidity is an attribute of all wines, no matter how well made.  It is what gives the wine the vinegary smell.  But if there is excessive acetic acidity the wine is considered to be flawed.

Acidic:  moderate acidity lends itself to a fresh and lively taste, but in excess wine can become tart and sour.

Acidity:  while some acidity in wine is a part of its enjoyment, helping to preserve its freshness and keep it lively, too much acidity will mask the flavor and constrict its texture.

Aeration:  swirling wine or letting it “breathe” after a bottle has been opened is aeration.  Typically aeration will soften tannic wines, but sometimes is a detriment to aged versions.

Aftertaste:  the taste left in the mouth after wine is swallowed, it may also be called length or finish.  The longer the aftertaste lingers, the better the wine is said to be.

Aggressive:  a term applied to highly acidic wines or wines with sharp tannins.

Alcoholic:  used to describe a wine whose alcohol content doesn’t match its body and weight.  Alcoholic quality is generally noticeable in aroma and aftertaste, making the wine heavy in smell or hot in the throat as it is swallowed.

Angular:  wines which lack roundness and depth.

Appearance:  refers to a wine’s clarity, not to its color.

Aroma:  the smell of a young, unevolved wine that has not aged enough to develop complex and nuanced smells.

Astringent:  this term applies to wines that are harsh and coarse to taste, generally in young wines because the tannins have not had enough time to develop.  Astringency is not necessarily a bad or good quality.

Austere:  generally an austere wine is one that lacks richness, although this does not make in necessarily terrible to drink.

Awkward:  poorly structured wines that are unbalanced.

Backbone:  wine that is full-bodied and balanced in acidity.

Backward:  wine that is either not ready to drink, is young and unevolved, or hasn’t (or won’t) release its “personality.”

Balance:  wine in which the concentration of fruit, tannins, and acidity are in complete harmony.  This is one of the most desired traits in a wine because it defines a symmetrical wine that will age nicely.

Barnyard:  an unclean aroma wine takes on as a result of unclean barrels or dirty winemaking facilities.

Big:  full-bodied wine with a concentrated feel on the palate.

Bite:  a marked degree of acidity or tannin.

Bitter:  one of the four basic tastes, sometimes due to the grape but other times a result of tannins.  Dominant bitterness is considered a flaw, but in sweet wines may complement the flavor.

Blunt:  strong in flavor but lacking aroma and palatable taste.

Body:  the weight and fullness of a wine sensed as it crosses the palate, often a result of high alcohol.

Bouquet:  developed complexity of the young aroma of wine.

Brawny:  a full-bodied wine with plenty of flavor, although this is not always a desired quality.

Briary:  a wine that is briary is more aggressive and spicy, often a characteristic of Zinfandels from California.

Brilliant:  a wine that is does not contain a hazy or cloudiness in its color.

Brooding:  dark-colored wines with no intense flavor.

Browning:  a term given to fully mature wines that are not likely to get better.

Burnt:  wines with a smoky or singed edge.  Can also be used to describe overripe grapes.

Buttery:  the smell of melted butter or toasty oak, often associated with Chardonnays.

Chewy:  the dense, viscous texture generally attributed to wines with higher alcohol levels.

Clean:  fresh-feeling on the palate with no off-taste detected.  This term does not necessarily refer to good quality (although it can).

Cloudiness:  lack of clarity to the eye.  This is only an undesired trait in younger wines, indicating spoilage or protein instability.  In older wines it may simply be sediment.

Coarse:  refers to texture, often due to excessive tannins or oak.

Complexity:  wines with a variety of subtle scents and flavors, although this is a very subjective term in wine tasting.

Concentrated:  concentrated flavors denotes wine that has a depth and richness of fruit.

Corked:  corked wine has taken on the smell of the cork rather than the smell of the grape from which the wine was made.  It is often musty, and sometimes smells like moldy newspaper.

Creamy:  refers to the creamy texture of wine as it sits on the palate.

Crisp:  generally applied to wines that are higher in acidity.

Decadent:  wines loaded with extravagant and sumptuous layers of fruit and a huge bouquet.

Decanting:  process of slowly and carefully pouring wine in order to separate the sediment from a wine before drinking.

Deep:  synonymous to concentrated, wine that is deep is rich and mouth-filling.

Delicate:  light, subtle wines lacking a robust character, typically used in describing white wines that aer less heavy than their red counterparts.

Dense:  a wine with concentrated aromas, a very desirable trait of young wines.

Depth:  used to describe the complexity and concentration of flavors in a wine.

Diffuse:  wines that smell and taste unstructured and unfocused.  This often occurs, for example, when red wines are served at warmer temperatures than they should be.

Dirty:  any off-putting smells that occur in a poorly made wine.

Dry:  wines that have no appreciable taste of sugar.

Dumb:  also closed, although in a slightly irreverent manner.  Closed wines may simply need time to improve, but dumb wines will likely never get better.

Earthy:  a term used to describe the aroma of fresh, clean soil, although it can be used in a negative manner as well.

Elegant:  light, graceful, balanced wines.  Typically used to describe white wines but red wines can also be elegant.

End:  similar to finish, the end is the remaining flavors on your palate after you have already swallowed.

Exuberant:  wine that seems too intensely vigorous.

Fat:  mature wines that are rich and concentrated with low or average acidity.  Usually a positive trait, but can sometimes become negative.

Finish:  the flavors that linger in the mouth after wine is tasted.

Firm:  tannic and structured.

Flabby:  a wine that is too fat lacks structure and feels heavy.

Fleshy:  a synonym for chewy, wine that has a lot of body likely due to high alcohol content.

Flinty:  a descriptor for extremely dry white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc.

Floral:  a floral scent associated with some wines.

Focused:  a focused wine is one whose bouquet and flavor are precise and aligned rather than hazy and diffuse.

Fresh:  a welcome trait in wines both young and old.  Wines are fresh when they are cleanly made and lively.

Fruity:  Good wines are nearly always fruity, meaning there is enough concentration of fruit that the grape can be detected.  Fruity, however, is not enough of a quality to make a good wine—there must be more factors available to the taste and smell.

Grassy:  typically a pleasant characteristic, usually associated with Sauvignon Blanc, although if the aroma is pungent it is displeasing.

Green:  wines made from unripened grapes.

Grip:  firmness of texture resulting from the wine’s tannins.

Hard:  astringent tannins or high acidity are often associated with hard wines, lending to an abrasive taste.  Not necessarily a bad quality, although wines should never be harsh.

Harmonious:  well-balanced wines with no obtrusive or lacking components.

Heady:  high in alcohol.

Hearty:  full, warm quality of red wines with high alcohol content

Hedonistic:  wine with obvious enjoyment factors that aren’t subtle in their appeal to all the senses–aromatic, perfect texture, visually and tastefully appealing, with an exceptional finish.

Herbaceous:  specific herbal smells that the wine imparts, such as oregano, basil, rosemary, fennel, thyme, or even lavender.

Hollow:  synonymous with shallow, shallow wines lack depth and concentration.

Hot:  wine that is too high in alcohol and therefore causes a burning sensation when swallowed.  The burn could be caused by the lacking presence of fruit depth.

Intensity:  another of the most desirable traits of a quality wine, it refers to balanced, vibrant, aromatic, layered, and texturally compelling wines.  Intensity should add to the character of the wine rather than overpowering it.

Leafy:  similar to herbaceous but in relation to leaves rather than herbs.  If the flavor is too leafy, wine will typically be referred to as green or vegetal.

Legs:  the droplets that form when wine is swirled.

Lift:  the refreshing sensation one experiences when drinking wine with good acidity.

Lively:  usually a young wine with good acidity.  Lively wines serve well to quench one’s thirst.

Long:  yet another desirable trait of fine wines.  Long (in the mouth) in finish, the sensation of the wine is present long after it has been swallowed.

Lush:  velvety, rich, fruity concentrated wines.  Often fat but never astringent or hard.

Malic:  the green apple-like flavor in some young wines, which will often diminish as the wine matures.

Meaty:  synonymous with chewy and/or fleshy.

Mouth-filling:  rich, concentrated wines filled with fruit extract and high in alcohol tend to texturally fill the mouth.  Mouth-filling wines are also said to be chewy, fleshy, and/or fat.

Musty:  wines that are musty have been aged in dirty barrels or have a bad cork that causes the wine’s character to be flawed.

Nose:  the general aroma of a wine sensed through the taster’s nose.

Oaky:  a toasty, vanilla flavor and smell to wines that have been aged in oak barrels, especially newer barrels.

Overripe:  a characteristic trait of wines whose grapes were left on the vine too long before harvesting.  The resulting wines are heavy and have lost their acidity.

Oxidized:  wines that have too much contact with air during the aging process lose their freshness and take on a stale smell and taste.

Peppery:  black or white pungent flavor of pepper in a wine.

Perfumed:  usually associated with fragrant, aromatic white wines.

Polished:  the result of ripe and refined tannins, polished wines are soft, silky, elegant, and round.

Precocious:  refers to wines that mature quickly, but also to wines that evolve gracefully over a long period of time although taste as though they are aging quickly because they retain some of their early qualities.

Rich:  wines with a high fruit intensity.

Robust:  full-bodied, intense, and vigorous.  Sometimes too much so.

Round:  desirable trait of fully mature wines that have lost their astringent tannins.

Rustic:  wines that are made by old-fashioned methods.  This can be positive in some wines which require aging, although negative quality in young wines that should be fresh and fruity but are instead earthy.

Savory:  denotes wine that is round, flavorful, and interesting.

Shallow:  antonym to deep wines, a shallow wine lacks concentration and appears to be watery or diluted.

Sharp:  bitter and unpleasant with hard edges.

Silky:  synonym for velvety or lush.

Simple:  any wine that lacks complexity beyond its natural fruit flavor.

Smoky:  a smoky or roasted quality is typically caused from the soil or from the barrel used to age the wine.

Soft:  round and fruity wines that are low in acidity and lack aggressive, hard tannins.

Spicy:  any pungent aromas of pepper, cinnamon, and other spices.

Stale:  often oxidized wines lack balance of acidity and freshness are referred to as stale.

Structure:  the interaction of many elements of wine–such as acid, tannins, alcohol, and body–as it relates to the wine’s texture and mouthfeel.

Subtle:  delicate wines or wines with understated flavors.  This is generally a positive attribute.

Supple:  a wine that is soft, lush, velvety.  A desirable trait because it typically refers to wines that are harmonious in many, if not all, manners.

Tannic:  tannins extracted from the skin of the grape give wine firmness.  Tannins typically fade as wine ages, so wines that are highly tannic are usually young and not ready for drinking.

Tart:  sharp acidity in a wine that is not yet ripe.

Thick:  wines low in acidity, concentrated, and rich are considered to be thick.

Thin:  synonymous with shallow, thin wines lack body and are watery and diluted.

Tired:  simply refers to a wine that is lackluster in its qualities.

Toasty:  the same quality as smoky or roasted wines which have been aged in barrels that are charred on the inside.

Tobacco:  evident in some red wines, the smell of tobacco is a positive characteristic.

Vegetal:  an undesirable characteristic of wines that are usually made from unripened grapes, although a subtle vegetal quality may sometimes add complexity if it is more of a vegetable garden aroma.

Viscous:  concentrated, almost thick wines with a rich, smooth taste.

Volatile:  vinegary smell associated with an excessive amount of acetic bacteria.

Woody:  overly oaky flavor that has passed the point of a nice bouquet and taste in a wine, usually masking the fruity qualities due to aging for too long in an oak barrel.

The post What’s your Wine? A Glossary of Tasting Terms appeared first on Houston's Blog.