4 Ways to Build Your Tasting Vocabulary

David Ferrie

First things first, start reading. The backs of wine labels are a good place to begin.  Also wine blogs (like ours!) and publications like “Food and Wine” and “Wine Spectator”. Do this, not to memorize what certain wines taste like, but to become comfortable with the words used to describe the flavors and aromas of wines. The more you do this, the more you will begin to realize that certain flavor profiles attribute to certain wine varietals and regions.

Secondly, go to wine tastings. Here, the person who has selected the wines will suggest the flavors in the wine. You will find that, as the suggestion is made, the realization of that flavor will hit your consciousness. I like to sample my customers experiences at the tastings I conduct. It’s fun and surprising!

Afterwards, share the experience. Whenever you sit down and share a bottle with your spouse or friend or aquaintance, discuss the flavors you are experiencing. It will be difficult, at first, but stay at it.

Lastly, ask for help in the wine shop. That wine consultant is there to inform, teach and share the experience of wine – in words, of course.  Most are very approachable and eager to help. 

The more articulate you become, the more likely you will be able to select a wine you will love!

Dave's Tasting Tips

David Ferrie

A customer came into the wine shop the other day. As I always do, I went over to her and asked if I could help her pick out a good wine. She said, “No, I’m just looking.” About 10 minutes later, she came to the register with a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I jokingly said to her, “So, you lied to me. You weren’t just looking.” After a bit of banter, the customer revealed, sheepishly, that she didn’t have much experience with wine and was embarrassed to ask for help because she didn’t even know where to begin. With that we went back to the racks. After asking a series of questions, we selected an opulent Pinot Blanc that the customer later reported she loved.

 What this customer lacked was not the ability to taste good wines. She had, as it turns out, a very sensitive palate. What she lacked was the ability to describe in words the flavors and textures her taste buds were experiencing. Lots of people have the same difficulty. I think that if people could describe the types of flavors they like and dislike, a good wine consultant would be able to match them with a wine they will enjoy. It’s worth it to spend a little time developing your taste/word vocabulary. If you doubt me, think of all the wines that disappointed you that you may have selected based on how nice the label looked.