Wine Tastings

Tips on what to expect and etiquette for a wine tasting from Dave Samet of Picadilly. Samet says wine tastings offer a chance to try several different wines, to determine your taste, or if you know what kind of wine you like, an opportunity to experience some new vintages. -At most wine tastings you`ll get a small amount of wine. -When you receive a taste, swirl the wine around the glass to airate it and see if it leaves "legs" on the glass. If there are "legs" it`s a better wine. -He says smell the wine before you drink it, to wake up your senses. -Samet says start with the white wines first, end the tasting with the sweetest of the wines, or dessert wine. -Rinse glass between very different types of wine. -Drink water in between tasting, and snack on crackers or bread to cleanse your pallet, enabling you to truely taste the next wine. -Samet says don`t be afraid to spit the wine out, there should be bowls available for that reason. He also suggests not drinking too much, because your palette will become muddled, and you`ll be less able to discern what kind of wine you like. -Don`t be afraid to ask questions, about the year of the grape or type of grape, region where the grape is grown, how the wine is stored, etc.