By Bob Souza
Souza Family Vineyards
Five Tips for Becoming a Wine Expert
Bob - the ‘Wine Guy
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Being an expert simply means that you have a very good understanding of something. Being a wine expert means you have a very good understanding of wine. All of them. Being an expert simply means that you have a very good understanding of something. Being a wine expert means you have a very good understanding of wine. All of them. You've got to be kidding. There are painfully few wine experts out there and Bob the “Wine Guy” certainly isn't one of them... really. I am well versed in a few wines of the world. While familiar with most – I do know more than most of the folks who ask me questions about wine, and can speak moderately intelligently about them –, that an expert does not make. I am more of an aficionado, and that suits me just fine.
If you want to hone your vinous skills, here are five approaches I’ve adopted to help make it happen!
Number one among the five tips: Learn a little bit about the region where the wine in question, the one we’re judging, is from. As we have discussed previously some of the finest wine in the world is grown in California, so finding a little bit about the area in California where your wine comes from could be very helpful. All 50 states in the United States now grow wine grapes; however California produces 90% of all the wine in America. That means that collectively the other 49 states, which includes Alaska and Hawaii, produce 10%.
Number two: When judging wine for yourself, and again this is to make you the expert, one helpful technique is drinking in squares. I know what you’re thinking; Bob the “Wine Guy” has once again lost his mind, but no – drinking in squares refers to tasting wines in multiples. One is called a horizontal tasting, and the other is called a vertical tasting. They both offer fabulous opportunities to learn about wine.
Okay here’s how it works. When doing a vertical tasting you will be tasting three or more wines from the same producer, also known as the vintner. Example: Zinfandel, but all from succeeding years such as a 2008, 2009, and 2010. All must be from the same vineyard and the same varietal.
Okay so what is a horizontal tasting? It is three or more wines of the same year, example 2007, the same varietal, example Merlot, but from different vintners. This is really a great way to see what you like and how to do a comprehensive taste test. A malicious rumor has been spread that horizontal tastings are the result of too much vertical tasting, this is patently untrue.
Number three: Do what I call, “Drink with your eyes open.” By this I mean drink with all the info you have available to you. Sounds obvious but it’s something we certainly don’t do when simply drinking wine. When we really want to learn something from a tasting it’s a good idea to understand what style and techniques the wines are made in. Once we find producers whose wines resonate with our palates, we’re going to want to seek out similar wines.
Number four: It’s called drink with your eyes closed. Blind tasting. The only way this works is by tasting blind. We are often influenced by what we see. If you want to study wine and be honest with yourself, hide the damn bottles. So if you really want to test yourself eventually try doing that with your eyes closed the experience is enlightening you might even say eye-opening (this guy should be arrested).
Lastly, number five: Be honest. This is the last step to becoming a wine expert of any sort. Be honest with yourself. Many of the people who make wine unpleasant adopt dogmatic approaches to wine. Sometimes you might love a natural wine, and sometimes you might love an industrial wine. You know what I’m talking about, they come in those boxes, but hey that’s okay. You have not let down “your side”. You've just chosen not to take sides. For me that is the only path one can honestly take for I have tasted great and terrible wines made both by artisans and faceless corporations. What I choose to buy may be a different story, but what I choose to vilify can be driven only by what is tasted. Blind.
As we’ve talked about many times before, what we at the Souza winery would like you to consider when you come and see us is to enjoy yourself, and learn something you didn’t know before about wine, and hey, it should all be fun!
It’s Spring, and things have become beautiful. Take a look around and you will notice that our little Tehachapi Valley is becoming somewhat of a wine growing area, and we couldn’t be more proud. Thanks to all you wine experts out there, keep it coming.
Okay before leaving ya, you got it,
it’s Family Nugget time!
My Uncle Aldo, on the morning of my Aunt Teresa’s birthday walks into the kitchen, and my Aunt says, “I had a dream last night that you gave me a diamond necklace for my birthday. What do you think it means?” So, Uncle Aldo says, “Maybe we’ll find out tonight.” That evening he comes home with a small package and gives it to Aunt Teresa. She’s so excited that she whips off the wrapping paper thinking this is the answer to her dream, only to find a book titled, “The Meaning of Dreams”. Which she promptly strikes him on the head with. Bada bing.
Until next time, I remain your Bob the “Wine guy.” Abbondanza Fortuna.
