Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A New Meaning to Blind Tasting ~ Session 1

Our Wine Study Group is off to a fantastic start! During our first gathering, we decided to engage our new group in a little game of blind tasting. However, this was no ordinary blind tasting! Instead of blindfolding the bottles, we blindfolded the tasters.


In this first activity, Jenn and I wanted to test our new group's ability to tell the difference between a red and white wine. In order to make the test a bit challenging, we chose two wines that would be very similar to each other in structure and as close as possible in taste. We served them at room temperature, and did not allow the tasters to see the bottles before the blindfold activity.

Here are the wines we chose to use:

Red: 2009 Louis Tete Les Charmeuses Morgon - This is a Beaujolais wine from the Burgundy Region in France that is light in structure and taste.

White: 2009 Domaine Des Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc “Classic" - Also from France, this white wine is a 100% Chardonnay. The structure on this wine was firm enough to stand up to a light red.

The tasters were given partners and asked to swirl, sniff, and taste each wine, carefully deciding which was red and which was white. After two minutes, we asked them to hold up the wine they believed to be the white wine. I'm happy to report that everyone passed!

You may be wondering why we would torture our friends this way, but there is a method to our madness. In addition to being a fun activity to break the ice during our first gathering, we also wanted to begin showing the connection between all of our senses when we go about the process of tasting. By blindfolding ourselves, we take away one of the senses that gives us a clue about what we are going to taste. In a way, our brain likes to give us clues about what we are about to eat or drink in various ways. Not being able to see the wine, takes away one of the preconceived notions we might already have about a “white” or a “red” wine. This leaves us with only the sense of taste, and smell.

Why is this important? We do not taste with our taste buds alone...

The importance of the Nose:
• Smell is the most acute sense (1,000 times more sensitive than taste)
• Flavor is determined by about 75% smell and 25% taste
• “Taste” is actually something that is determined by what we sense with our noses and mouths combined
• We actually taste and smell at the same time when we are chewing. Vapor will travel up to our olfactory receptors, sending our brain messages about what we are eating.
• Volatile substances (like wine) shoot flavor elements (vapor) off into the atmosphere all the time, making them an interesting and rewarding experience.
• By actively smelling everything you drink, and eat, you can at least double the pleasure it gives.

Point To Ponder...Try this the next time you go to sip your wine... As you bring the glass up to your lips, breathe in through your mouth at the same time that you're smelling the wine. What do you notice?

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Introducing the Self-Made Sommelier Group Leaders...


Jennifer and Kristen doing some tasting at Ridge



Kristen

I have long been fascinated by the world of wine. I'm not really sure when my love affair began exactly...Perhaps it was when I moved to Sonoma County and lived among the vines. Watching them change through the seasons, getting heavy with fruit and anticipating the harvest. What I do know however, is that once I started exploring wine and wine culture, I was hooked.

My full time inquiry into wine began in 2005 when I worked for a family owned organic farm and winery in Healdsburg. I knew almost nothing when I was hired, but quickly started to pick things up. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. I threw myself into my studies with eager enthusiasm, and vowed to never stop exploring this passion. After recently making the decision to follow my passions further, I decided that I needed to dedicate myself to really understanding my wine tasting palate. So Jennifer and I convinced a group of tasters to join us on a journey of exploring our palates, and we invite you to follow along with our experience.



Jennifer


My love and fascination for wine started about 9 years ago. Not sure exactly what it was that peaked my interest ~Maybe it was turning 21~Maybe it was the simple presence of it at our Sunday family dinners where my Dad would often share his newest find~ Maybe it was just the want to learn about something new~ But I soon became fascinated by the complexity and expansive big world of wine.

Whether it was throwing wine tasting parties with friends, taking trips to Paso Robles, Napa and Healdsburg, or visiting all our amazing local wineries, I quickly became intrigued by the complexity of wine and was fascinated with the broad array of tastes I was being introduced to. There was a whole new world I wanted to learn more about and become more knowledgeable in...if only it were that easy..:)

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life as a wife, mom to two beautiful girls, and working part time as a behavior therapist for our local school district, I find that at the end of a long week, (okay, sometimes a long day) I find much peace in enjoying a nice glass of wine. I love experimenting with different varietals and new wineries and taking my knowledge to new heights. I am thoroughly excited to take this love and passion for wine to the next level as I learn all I can to broaden my palette and expand my vocabulary by embarking on this next wine journey.



Join us as we explore the senses and learn how to taste wine like true professionals!