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More information = more appreciation.

That’s a simple equation to really help you connect with and better appreciate the particular pressed grapes in your wine glass.

Wine coaches and sommeliers back that sentiment wholeheartedly, as does any person with a good understanding of their craft or art.

But whether you’re a wine expert or an amateur imbiber, knowing the details about what you’re sipping on can help you enjoy it just that much more.

Caroline Conner, a wine coach and sommelier over at Forbes, says that it makes her sad when wine lovers decide that it isn’t worth trying to gain a better understanding:

“In what other area of your life would you spend that much time and money on something without knowing a thing about it?”

She is sure that “you really ought to do yourself the favour of learning because it really makes it better”.

Here are a few tips from industry experts to help you soak up all the goodness in your glass:

Take the time to taste:

“There is definitely a difference between tasting and drinking. Tasting can be a five second moment or a five minute one, but it basically means giving yourself the time and mental space to actually notice what you’re seeing, smelling, and then finally, tasting.

Even us industry folks don’t do the whole swirly, sniffy, swishy business for our entire glass when we’re out to dinner, just the first couple sips.” — Caroline Conner, wine coach and sommelier

Taking a moment with the sommeliers at Anthonij Rupert Wyne’s Tasting Room in Franschhoek will help you brush up on how to properly swirl, sniff, and sip.

After that, head outside to really relish in the art of wine drinking, surrounded by the postcard-perfect Groot Drakenstein Mountains.

 

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Who wouldn’t enjoy a wine moment like that?

Google it:

“Google the name of the wine, the appellation and the location. Try to spot where the wine comes from on a wine map or Google maps. The more you know the stronger your appreciation; you enjoy a good basketball game more if you know about rules, players, tactics.) — Roman Horvath, MW and winery director at Domäne Wachau

For example, Anthonij Rupert Wyne has wine brands from four different farms in different regions all over the province, all with different climates and available nutrients that change the flavour of the wine.

The wines made in Altima, an isolated valley north of Villiersdorp surrounded by a steep mountain range, have high natural acidity and upfront aromas (like the Cape of Good Hope Altima Sauvignon Blanc), while the wines made in the Swartland (L’ormarins Ou Bosstok) have stronger flavours and exceptional acids.

Drink by region or varietal:

Region—The way that I originally got into wine was through drinking my way through the Jura (a region in eastern France). I drank all the things—Ploussard, Trousseau, Chardonnay and all the sparkling expressions. It’s such a fun way to experience the terroir.

Varietal—Have a Pinot Noir month where you drink Pinot Noir from all over; various parts of California, France, Germany, New Zealand. This is great because you get to experience all the typical parts of that grape and see how it expresses itself differently depending on where it’s grown. — Kristin Olszewski, CEO and sommelier at Nomadica.

Take a picture:

“Always take a picture of what you’re drinking if you really enjoy the wine. You’ll always be in that situation where you can’t remember the name of a wine you had at a certain moment. Taking a picture of the bottle lets you remember the experiences you had with a particular wine.” — Hugo Bensimon, Wine Director at Grill 23

Drink what you love:

Drinking what you love based on your individual tastes is better than drinking what someone else tells you that you should love, so honour your preferences.

As sommelier Dana Beninati says, “Life is too short to do anything to the contrary. Don’t be shy about a wine that suits your fancy, no matter the price point or food pairing.”

Have fun with these tips and tricks, especially when the perfect place to put them into practice is right on your doorstep.

[source:forbes]