Grovedale Wine Tasting Tips

Never done a wine tasting before? Or you’re not super familiar with wine but want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your experience at the winery? There’s no correct way to taste wine, but here are a few tips to help you take full advantage of your wine tasting experience! 

1. Swirl

Why do people swirl wine? Swirling the wine exposes it to oxygen and opens the wine up which helps expose its range of aromas and the different flavors. Wines can have a plethora of tasting notes and aromas that all hit you at different times.

However, while oxygen can elevate wine, exposing it to oxygen for too long will fully oxidize the wine leaving it with an unpleasant taste.

In order to swirl your wine (without spilling it) just place the glass on a table, hold the stem of the glass, and draw circles with the glass on the table 

 

2. Smell

After swirling your wine, it’s a good time to give it a smell before tasting it. Taste and smell go hand in hand, especially with wine.

A great example of this is our Susquehanna Sunset wine. It has fruity tasting notes such as peach, cherry, and grape. When tasting it see if you can identify these notes through you sense of smell. 

Try naming all of the fruits, flowers, and other scents you detect in the wines scent. It’s a fun game to play with family and friends when wine tasting. It will also help you familiarize yourself with the wine before finally tasting it.

3. Sip

Although wine tasting flights may appear small and look like you’re not getting a lot of wine, you actually are consuming a lot of wine even when tasting.

Remember to sip the wine instead of chugging or shooting it. Sip the wine and let it sit in your mouth for a while so you can take in all the flavors the wine has to offer. Take it slow so you can fully experience each of the wines you’re tasting and so you don’t get queasy and ruin the rest of your day at the winery.  

 

4. Ask questions

Be sure to ask questions to get the most out of your wine tasting experience. Every winery has its own history and interesting facts associated with it. 

If you don’t know a lot about wine, asking questions at the winery is a beautiful place to start gathering knowledge. Here are some great questions to ask if you’re interested in getting more acquainted with the winery you’re visiting and wine in general.  

  • What is the history of the winery? 
  • Which grapes are grown at this vineyard? 
  • How are the wines fermented? 
  • What food would you pair this wine with?

5. Have a good time!

No matter where you’re tasting wine at, it’s important to remember to have fun. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to wine tasting, it’s all about your personal preferences. Don’t get too caught up in others' opinions or what wine you think you should like best based on prices, names, etc. Have fun with it and remember you’re there to form your own opinions on wine and find what YOU like best.  

Come visit our winery for a wine tasting and decide which ones you like best! 


2 comments


  • Rosemary

    Great tasting tips. First time I’ve read the Blog. Good Job! Keep them coming.


  • Linda

    A fun reminder for all of us – new and experienced wine lovers! Thanks!!!


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