LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2020

W i n e Ta s t i n g 1 0 1 Before you bring home the best of Wine Country, you’ll want to do plenty of tastings. The tasting bar should be fun, not intimidating, so use these 4 simple tips to get more out of every sample. Just remember: See, Swirl, Smell, Swish.

See the Colour Hold your glass up to the light and take note of the colour. This gives you a hint about grape variety and indicates the age of the wine or vintage. Swirl the Glass Gently swirl the wine and watch how it coats the glass. A more viscous wine is said to have “legs” – more alcohol and body. Smell the “Nose” of the Wine Get in there! Start with soft sniffs and then stick your whole nose in the glass to take it all in. Think about the aromas you smell, from berries to spice to smoke. Swish the Wine Around Your Mouth Don’t be dainty. Let the wine contact every part of your tongue.

Describe the experience. Sweet or dry? Light or full bodied? Do you taste the aromas you smelled? Remember: spitting is not considered rude, which is why most wineries have spittoons lined up at the bar.

Keep in mind: tasting is subjective, so there’s no “wrong” answer. The more time you take tasting, the more you learn which regions and grape varieties you like better. And it’s a lot of fun along the way.

Wine Flavours Are Influenced By Sweetness Residual sugars from the grapes balance with acidity to build flavour. Acidity Another element natural to the grape that creates tartness and brightness. Tannin The astringency or “chewiness” of some wines that gives them structure. It can come both from grape skins and oak barrels.

Wine Aromas Can Be Fruity (berry, apple, citrus) Floral (violet, orange flower) Herbal/Vegetal (cut grass, bell pepper) Spicy (liquorice, black pepper) Smoky/Woody (smoke, coffee, vanilla)

Sweet (caramel, honey) And many, many more…

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winecountryontario.ca VQA | 2020/21 Travel Guide