Sunday, January 22, 2012

Spit or Swallow?

I was raised to be a good girl and good girls don't spit! What I've learned since my youth is that spitting is an option. In wine tasting, spitting can be a very good option and often a useful tool.

When I jumped into the winery-side of the business over a decade ago, I had never really tasted wine. Having grown up and worked in vineyards before my winery gig, I had not been exposed to a professional wine tasting. My first day on the job, I walked into a room of 20 winemakers; all very seasoned and very professional. I sat next to one of the brand winemakers (the winemaker who oversees a large wine brand) and within 15 minutes, he taught me two very basic, but important wine tasting tips:

  1. Don't smell: This very handsome man, the brand winemaker, introduced himself and sat next to me. The next words out of his mouth were, "You perfume is intoxicating!" At first I was flattered. I soon realized my "scent" was an assault to the senses of this roomful of professionals trying to evaluate the vintage they had created. I nearly died of embarrassment. Needless-to-say that was the first and last time I wore perfume to a tasting! For you, wine tasters, use your judgment when tasting. When you go on a wine tasting excursion, consider leaving your signature scent at home. It will allow the wines to clearly show what they've got to offer you as well as the folks around you.

     

  2. Spit. Spit often. Spit with purpose: My first professional winetasting started at 9:00 a.m. and lasted until 5:00 p.m. with very few breaks and a working lunch. This went on for two days! Someone announced at the beginning that we would try to keep on a schedule of tasting one wine per minute! Seriously? Actually, we tasted about 110 wines that first day. My new-found winemaker buddy nudged me on the second wine and suggested I spit out each taste. Spit? I could barely consider the suggestion. Not a lady-like move at all. I ignored the winemaker and kept swallowing through each wine…for another 10 tastes. What became o-so-clear was that by 9:30 I had consumed at least one full glass of wine and I still had hours and hours to go. I knew I wouldn't make it. So, I adapted and I spit out each taste. It freed me!

     

Spitting is a very important part of a wine tasting, whether for work or pleasure. Wine is, after all an alcoholic beverage and each taste adds up. Alcohol levels in wine range between 11% and 17 %, depending on wine style. A typical pour size at tasting rooms, events and organized tastings is 1 ounce. If you drink each 1 ounce taste, it doesn't take too long to add up. I've now tasted and spit my way through hundreds of long tasting days and highly recommend it!

 

There's an art to the spit, however. After you've taken in all that the aromas have to offer, take a sip of wine into your mouth. Allow it to sit there a moment, rinsing your palate in the flavors. Swish it around a bit and then spit. I like to spit slowly, letting the wine leave a lasting impression on my palate. Some like to get it out fast. Whatever your preference make sure to aim carefully! Nothing distracts a tasting more than a missed spit. This could take some practice!

 

Don't be afraid to ask for a spittoon when visiting tasting rooms. They all have them but few use them. People who are recreational tasters tend to feel obligated to drink every pour given to them. DO NOT fall prey to this! Aside from the alcohol-absorption reasoning for spitting, your taster will thank you for spitting as well. Remember when you had to eat soap due to a curse word slip as a child? Would you choose to take that bite again? I doubt it. So why would you take a second sip of wine you are sampling that you don't like? Tasting rooms and wine events are designed for you to try everything they have to offer in the cellar. It would be rare that you will love all of them. So spit them out! Save your swallows for your favorites.

 

If you find yourself at a gathering or event where limited wines are served in full glasses there will not be spittoons available. But, I encourage you to use the same guidelines. If you don't like the wine you chose, kindly give the full glass back to the server and ask for something else. Even better, you can ask for a small taste before you get a larger pour. It's not rude. It's your prerogative. Why would you drink (or eat) something that isn't pleasing to your senses?

 

Marathon tasting tidbit: Sip water between tastes. Water-down the alcohol! Also, the crackers and bread offered help clear your palate and line your stomach – A two-fer!

 

This good girl has learned when to spit and when to swallow! My key to success is practice, practice, practice!

 

 

 

 

 

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