WINE TASTINGS     We will be hosting a wine tasting on the first Saturday afternoon of each month. We will select an outstanding wine from our collection which you will be able to try before you buy. Hor d'oerves will be available to complement our selection. We hope you will join us. Visit our Wine Picks page for the wine to be tasted.     WINE TASTING The best time to taste is before a meal. Try not to perform this after a hearty meal, as your taste buds will be affected by what you have been eating previously.Taste white wines first, then rosés, then reds. In tasting accurately, only a small amount should be poured into the tasting glass. To fill it more than one-third full makes it difficult to perform some of the following operations. Proper Fill Level for Tasting  VISUAL: A great deal can be learned about wine by examining it visually. As you do, look for the following points: Clarity: Is the wine bright and healthy looking or is it hazy or cloudy? Intensity: Is the color deep or pale? Color: Hold the glass at an angle against a white background and note the color. This is best seen on the rim of the wine. Red wines begin life as purple, changing with age to red, mahogany, and eventually brown.  SMELLING: The smell of a wine is referred to as its "nose." While noting the nose, the wine's various aromas may be released by swirling it in the glass. This also allows the oxygen from the air to mix with the wine and bring it into optimum condition. Sniff gently, but deeply, and check for the following:  Condition: How does the wine smell? Is it pleasing? Are there any musty, earthy, or unpleasant aromas? Intensity: Is its nose weak or full? Character:The description of the fruitiness can be difficult at first. With practice, however, one will become more skilled and able to recognize certain fruit and/or flower characteristics. Some note characteristics of currant, flowers, cherries, or berries. TASTING: This is the most important step of the process. The taste of wine is known as its "palate". After the wine has had a chance to "breathe," take a small mouthful. Let the wine hit every part of your mouth. Different areas of the mouth taste different flavors. Allow yourself some time to admire the taste in your mouth and note the length of its finish.   HOME