Learning how to taste wine and what to look for takes practice, but you can often tell if a wine is well made or not, even without tasting experience. For argument’s sake, let’s say you can’t tell the difference between fine wine and subpar wine by taste. There are still some big differences you may take note of when you buy wine online, so you can at least understand why there’s a price difference between a $2 wine and a $30 bottle.
High-Quality Grapes
You can’t have great-tasting wine without great grapes. There’s no way around it. Well-known wine-growing regions around the world are famous for growing superb grapes—for good reason. The soil, the slope of the land, and the amount of sunlight all play a huge role in the grape’s quality. The particular growing conditions of a vineyard, or terroir, can often be detected in the scents and flavors of the finished wine. Proficient wine tasters are often able to pick up on the earth, mineral, or rock scents in some of the best red and white wines.
Prosecco DOC: Fine Italian Sparkling Wine
To expand further on grape quality, real Prosecco comes from select regions in Northeast Italy, made primarily with Glera grapes. You can buy Prosecco from many producers out there, but if you want authentic Prosecco, look to make sure it’s made in Italy and has DOC or DOCG designation as assurance. This doesn’t mean it’s necessarily super spendy, but it does mean you are getting Prosecco from the high-quality production regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. So, if you choose a Prosecco DOC Treviso label, in particular, it means the wine is harvested and bottled exclusively within the province of Treviso, located in Veneto. This area is known for producing exceptionally high-quality Prosecco grapes.
Winemaking Skills
With perfect, beautiful grapes, it’s now up to a skilled winemaker to make the magic happen. Excellent wines come from winemakers who highlight the particular grapes using their best techniques and skills. You’ll be able to taste their work. A well-balanced wine will have all the flavor components in check. In other words, it will be harmonious, complex, balanced, and complete. The finish will be satisfying too. Keep in mind sometimes bad things happen to good grapes during the winemaking process, such as oxidation, stuck fermentation, or defective corks.
Taste, Texture, and Aroma
The more wine you drink, the more you’ll notice the differences between a really excellent bottle and the bottles that are less memorable for you. Red wines are often described as having flavors of raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and plum. Add to that descriptions of vanilla, leather, tobacco, black pepper, and even bacon.
Texture is how the wine feels in your mouth, such as silky, smooth, soft, firm, or plush. This comes from the level of acidity in your wine, the tannins, and the oak barrels used to age the wine. The aroma comes from what you smell when you stick your nose in the glass, which is an important part of how the wine tastes.
About Opici Wines & Spirits
As a national importer of fine wine for sale and craft spirits, Opici Wines & Spirits shares its vision of creating extraordinary experiences through superior products from their family to yours. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes distinctive wines and spirits that offer incredible value, exceptional craftsmanship, and classic international appeal. Founded in 1913, Opici Wines & Spirits has been family owned and operated since its inception. Today, the company is managed by the fourth generation and has a portfolio with over 50 brands from around the world, including their proprietary labels.
Select exceptional wine for sale from Opici Wines & Spirits at https://shop.opiciwines.com/
