Five things they don’t tell you about wine tasting in France
There is more to it than simply swirling your glass
If you don't like a wine, or you are driving, or simply do not want to drink alcohol, use the spittoon (crachoir)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock
1) La dégustation
When you arrive at a wine-tasting, unless you are a professional, it is best to claim no knowledge at all.
Otherwise you could be asked your opinion on technical questions about assemblage and cépages.
It is perfectly acceptable to be a total beginner or only interested in whether or not you like it.
Très bien!
2) Les règles de base
When you receive your glass, first look at the colour. Maybe even hold the glass up to the light.
Then swirl the wine gently before sticking your nose right into the glass and taking a big, fat sniff. Now you can sip, and slurp the wine all around your mouth. Intéressant!
3) Les saveurs
You might detect fruit aromas, which come from the grape. Or other flavours, which come from the wine-making process, such as leather or old wood.
But if you smell wet grass, chocolate, aftershave, or anything else, it is fine to say so. You might find that other people agree with you.
Moi aussi!
4) La vérité
If you don't like a wine, you can say so. It is better to work out why you don't like it though.
Does it make your teeth squeak? Is it too acidic? Too strongly flavoured or too light? Is it too sweet or do you not like red wine with notes of tobacco?
Tant pis!
5) Le crachoir
If you don't like a wine, or you are driving, or simply do not want to drink alcohol, use the crachoir (spittoon). Try to do this elegantly and with style.
At the end of the tasting, if you don't want to buy anything you can just say thank you and leave.
A la prochaine!
