Monica Beeman

I had a neighbor recently tell me about a wine tasting experience she had over the weekend.  Not thinking much of it, I listened to her talk about a Merlot she tasted and raved about.  She then went on to say that she has a tough time finding wines that she likes because she only enjoys wine that "taste like wine".  This stumbled me for a moment.  Does't all wine "taste like wine"?

The short answer is no.  One the amazing attributes of wine is that the flavor varies.  It can vary on an extreme level or it can be so minimal, only the most well-trained professional can identify the characteristics that are dissimilar in the wine.  The truth is, it's these nuances in wine that make wine such an appealing drink of choice for many.

The long answer is that all wine is fermented grapes and tastes relatively the same.  Accounting for the differences in the type of grape, winemaking style, fermentation container, etc, wine can have a smooth, balanced taste or it can be bold, hearty, and biting.  But how do you know which kind of wine has the characteristics you might enjoy?