Winetasting seems a very exotic experience and many may conclude that it is costly. However, I found the experience is worth all the money we put into the day or weekend as the case may be. As we had planned a one-day trip to Fratelli vineyards, I decided to read and understand more about winemaking and wine tasting. I also listed down these 7 tips for attending wine tasting!
He who knows how to drink wine does not drink wine but savors secrets!
As I read, I gathered there are different types of wine tasting that can happen, Wine lovers and critics can enjoy the experience in any of the following ways –
- Barrel room tasting
- Wine bar tasting
- Vineyard tasting
- High Top tasting
- Complete wine tour
What we had planned with Fratelli were a vineyard visit and wine tasting.
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Winemaking and wine tasting in India
Wine history in India is almost 5000-8000 years old. References of winemaking have been noted from Harappan culture to Mughal times till the 19th century. Although winemaking was widespread in the 19th century, phylloxera at the beginning of the 20th century wiped out the winemaking industry. It was re-introduced in 1980 and has been going strong since. Nashik city in Maharashtra state and Nandi Hills in Bangalore city of Karnataka state of India are the main wine-growing regions, there are a couple of vineyards in other dry regions too. Baramati is one such place where the Fratelli vineyard is situated.
Top 5 places in India for wine tasting
- Sula Vineyards, Nashik
- Chateau d’Ori, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
- Grover Vineyards, Nandi hills, Karnataka (Mysore blog post link)
- Fratelli Wines, Akluj, Maharashtra (Read our detailed blog on Fratelli wine tasting)
- Vallee de Vin Vineyards (Zampa Wines), Nashik
7 tips for attending wine tasting
Understand what it is about
You need to understand that wine has to be consumed in a specific manner to fully experience the taste of the wine – may it be red, white or pink. The steps in wine tasting are –
- See – See the wine and appreciate its color by putting it against a white background
- Swirl – Give the wine some air by swirling it.
- Sniff – Then you are supposed to sniff and smell the wine. Wine tasting starts with appreciating the smell
- Sip – Then you sip the wine giving you the first taste.
- Savor – The entire sensation enhanced by swallowing the wine slowly.
Dress for the occasion
You need not be extra formal for the occasion, however, going in shorts might make you stand out in the crowd. So find a middle ground to select your style for the wine tasting.
Choosing an attire can seem complicated but it’s not. Keep your comfort in mind while choosing your dress as there might be long walks involved. A summer dress can be a great attire for wine tasting. Jeans and tops go well too. However, ensure that you wear whites or pastels for a vineyard tasting as you would be going out in sun a lot. You can also go for evening dress if you are staying the weekend or going for the wine bar tasting. Carry layers if the weather is going to fluctuate a lot during day and night.
An outdoor tasting requires a hat or a cap to go with your dress. You go as chic as possible with your hat however, it should fulfill its end objective – saving you from the sun.
Sunglasses are again a must if you are doing a vineyard tasting.
Wear comfortable footwear. Choose heels or flats wisely. I would suggest going for flats in case of outdoor tasting.
Another fragrance a no-no
Any other smell interferes with the wine tasting. So, do not wear fragrance to wine tasting. That means, deodorants, scented body lotions, and perfumes are a strict no-no!
Eat appropriately
Tasting on an empty stomach can be a recipe for disaster. So eat appropriately. There are many foods that go great with wine, such as –
- Pineapple
- Variety of cheese or cheese crackers
- Tortilla chips with salsa sauce
- Potato chips
- Nuts
Apart from this food ensure that you have had a proper meal along with wine.
Drink water to clean palate
Drinking water and spitting unwanted wine are two ways in which you can deal with the unwanted taste. Drinking water can also help you clean the red wine stains off your teeth.
Talk to the winemaker
Wine experience can be much more fun when you know the story behind its creation. So talking to the winemaker can reveal so many secrets about winemaking.
Most important is to appreciate the entire experience of wine tasting! I am sure with these 7 tips of wine tasting you would enjoy wine tasting and have fun too!
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