Taste – the final assessment

The palate is considered the best sensation of a wine tasting!

To finish our series of articles on Wine Tasting, we couldn't fail to talk about the last of the three senses, Taste.

In a wine tasting, the last phase corresponds to the Palate and is the one that completes the other two sensations previously discussed on our blog:

Visual;
Olfactory.

When we refer to this sensation, we are talking about the moment of savoring and tasting. This is an assessment that should be made with the greatest possible attention, as you will detect:

persistence;
the intensity;
the balance;
and finally, the quality of the wine in question.

How should the assessment be done, with regard to Taste?

First, taste a small amount of wine so that it passes through your mouth and remains there for just a few seconds.

Interestingly, many winemakers chew the amount they taste, as there is a release of aromas.

Also note that you should not eat anything while tasting a wine. This could significantly influence the taste of another wine. You may not be able to taste what you are supposed to taste.

Characteristics that can be felt in a wine tasting:

When tasting wine, four different sensations can be identified: sweet, bitter, salty and finally acidic . All of these sensations are felt on the tongue, with each one acting on different parts of the tongue.

Sweetness is detected at the tip of the tongue, and bitterness is detected at the back of the tongue.

Please note: this bitter sensation arises due to the wood in which the wine was aged or it may also be a characteristic of the grape varieties used.

The saltiness is not usually felt as it is eliminated by the acidity and finally the acid is felt on the sides of the tongue.

Please note that acidic wines correspond to white or rosé wines, whereas red wines do not normally have this characteristic due to the different grapes used.

It is said that a good wine is one that has a long finish. What does this mean?

It is a sensation that the wine leaves in the mouth when it is swallowed. However, it can have a short or long finish. Thus, it works as an indicator of quality and the longer the finish, the higher the quality of the wine and vice versa.


By the way, Convento do Espinheiro holds several wine tastings throughout the year. If you would like to take part in one, keep an eye out for the next opportunity.