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etiquette Uncork, Sip Savor D The ins and outs of wine tasting etiquette BY Hope Myers rinking wine is simple. Anyone can sip it out of a glass. However, tasting wine is a whole different story. "The world of wine is infinite," wrote French wine expert Emile Peynaud in his book, The Taste of Wine. "I still have notes of all my tastings and every now and again I leaf through them; the experience is like looking at the pictures in a travel album which can take me back in time." Fayetteville has its own wine aficionados like Nick Parrous, co-owner of Luigi's Italian Restaurant and president of the Fayetteville Wine Society. Nick has a passion for wine and is an expert at the sometimes complicated process of wine tasting. "Wine is intellectual," he said. "What other beverage can tell you where it's been, how its aged and pressed and what flavors it's been aged with. Really tasting wine adds an extra dimension to the basic daily routines of eating and drinking. It turns obligation to pleasure, a daily necessity into a celebration." Tasting is not about drinking wine. It is about experiencing wine's flavor to a fuller degree. So don't go to a wine tasting expecting to drink a lot of alcohol. In fact, at multiple wine tastings, wine is usually spit back out to help distinguish the flavor. As a general rule, there are three main parts to wine tasting: look, smell and taste. "All are integral to gaining the full experience of the wine," said Parrous, "so make sure you take your time on each one." Though wine tasting can be a complicated process, these three steps can really help break things down. Now, on to the steps of wine tasting. Look: The first step to wine tasting is the glass. Wine should always be served in a clear crystal goblet, void of colors, print or smudges. A good wine glass should have a stem and the glass should be held by the stem. Don't hold the glass by the bowl (cup part of the goblet). This can cause fingerprints or actually heat up the wine in the bowl. Also, the glass should be narrower up at top rather than at the bottom to concentrate the aromas of the wine at the point where the drinker can enjoy them. After the wine is poured, try holding the glass in front of a white background (like paper or a tablecloth) so you can examine the color. The color of wine is variable. For example, white wines actually vary from yellow and green. Red wines aren't usually just red. They can range from pale red to a deep brown red. Whereas time improves red wines, it usually makes white wines go bad. "It's interesting, because whereas white wines grow darker as they age, red wines grow lighter," affirmed Parrous. "Also, check the rim color. You can do this by tilting the glass slightly and looking at the edge of the wine. A purple tint can mean a young wine, whereas orange or brown can indicate maturity." Next, swirl the wine, since it gives you a chance to see the body. "Legs," or the wine that runs down the insides of the goblet, can indicate a body and alcohol content and/ CityViewNC.com | 27

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