A Beginner’s Guide to Appreciating Diversity in White Wines
White wines can present themselves as a bold accompanist or lay back like a mellow friend. Diversity in white varietals make it possible for most wine lovers to find a selection or two to regularly enjoy.
Over the 2016 holiday season, I hosted a white wine tasting with family members. It’s easy to do and a great way to learn more about wine in a comfortable setting. We used an easy set of metrics to rate each wine. Appearance – is it yellow, green tinted or amber colored? Aromas/Flavor – what scents do you smell? Smell is the entry point to experiencing flavors. Taste – is the wine acidic, tart or have tannins? Acidity gives a crisp taste and is a major sense. Is it long lasting or a short finish that evaporates as soon as you’ve swallowed the wine? Last is Summary – do you like this wine, would you purchase it?
Positivevines Helpful Hint: Wines should be served in a tulip shaped glass. Make sure that you pour all 3 at the same time. Keep a cup to spit out wine between each tasting and drink water to clean your palet.
The 3 wines that I chose for our tasting are very different in texture, taste and finish. The first is a 2013 Trimbach Riesling from the Alsace region of France (http://www.trimbach.fr/en/alsace-wines/our-classic-range/). Most people think of Rieslings as very sweet wines. Trimbach Riesling is dry with a hint of fruitiness.
The next wine is a 2013 Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley by Matthew Fritz(www.mfwine.com). This is a citrusy wine that is medium bodied and crisp strong herbal aromas and tastes.
The final wine in the trio was a traditional 2014 California Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson (http://www.kj.com/wine/vintners-reserve/chardonnay) . This is a buttery wine, bold and with a long finish. There are tastes of peach, melon, vanilla and lots of oak.
We used a very simple tasting sheet that each member of the family used to record their impressions of the various wines. It was a unanimous ranking of the Kendall Jackson Chardonnay first, the Trimbach Riesling second and the Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc third. All 3 are good quality wines and reasonably priced below $20 per bottle. Make sure that you have an abundance of food available after the tasting. Our dinner treat featured shrimp wontons. These paired well with each person’s preferred glass of white wine for the evening.
Host a wine tasting with your family and friends. It’s a great way to share new wines, get the opinions of those that you trust, and have a lot of fun in the process.
Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!
Drink Responsibly!
@kjwines #wbc2017 @trimbach