Taste with Confidence: Wine Tasting for Beginners

The second of the two articles I wrote on wines.

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TASTE WITH CONFIDENCE: WINE TASTING FOR BEGINNERS
Conquer your fear of tasting wine with easy-to-follow tips from Filipina winemaker Tondi Bolkan of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

“There is no right or wrong when tasting wine. Just be open and trust your own opinion. The person’s palate is the final answer.” A neophyte wine taster cannot ask for more comforting words. This is how Tondi Bolkan, a Filipina associate winemaker of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery (FFCW) in California, welcomed her guests in a wine tasting event held last January to showcase her own wine concoctions.

Admittedly, wine tasting is still a relatively new concept for Filipinos. Most people choose not to attend a tasting out of fear or not knowing what to do. But what is a better way to start exploring wine than with blends specifically created for the Filipino palate.

Six different wines vintaged in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California from Allejos Cellars and FFCW were uncorked for tasting, including the former’s Pinay Muscato (white), Tondi Bolkan Merlot (red) and Pinay Pastel (port-style wine).

Cast your fear aside and apply these easy-to-follow tips from Tondi:

LOOK. Wine is always served in clear glasses for you to observe the intensity, color and clarity. Red wines lose color with age, turning from purple to garnet, while white wines start from watery green to golden yellow. To best observe, tilt your glass 45 degrees against a white background.

SWIRL. We’ve all seen how experienced wine tasters swirl their wine in the glass. By doing so, you allow the wine to breathe and release its aroma after being in the bottle for long periods.

SMELL. Poke your nose in the fume chamber and sniff deeply. Try to associate the aroma with things you encounter from day to day life, those that bring you pleasant memories. For inexperienced tasters exercise identifying if the aroma is floral, fruity or spicy.

TASTE. Sip, but do not swallow—yet. Swish the wine around in your mouth for a few seconds to allow the flavors to dance in your palate. Focus on how it initially tastes and evolves, even how it tastes after you’ve spit or swallowed.

“The key is to go out and taste wines. The only way to find out what you like is to try it. This is also why we made different kinds of wine, because everyone has a preference, and that’s good.” Tondi’s 375ml bottles or splits are ideal for tasting. It allows you to taste the wine without forcing yourself to finish the1liter bottle. “It prevents wastage and keeps the wine fresh. If you want another glass, you can always open another bottle,” says Tondi.

Filipinos can also learn to incorporate wine in their meals and festivities. Tondi recommends the Pinay Muscato to be paired with drier dishes such as crispy pata or chicken adobo. The TB Merlot may be paired with caldereta and kare kare while the Pinay Pastel, which is a dessert wine may be taken in small servings after the main entrees.

“Tasting is something you train yourself to do, you should never pass an opportunity to try different wines.” Armed with Tondi’s tips, Filipinos can now attend wine tasting events with confidence, giving Filipinos all the more reason enjoy wine.

Cheers!

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Visit www.alejos-cellars.com
Additional information from Wine Tasting For Beginners by James Elisworth