This Latin phrase literally translates to: in vino veritas, or wine is truth. This term generally implies that intoxicated people tend to speak their minds more freely and reveal more information than when sober.

Researchers across many fields, including marketing and sensory science, are becoming more interested in understanding how consumers purchase and experience wine. Therefore, wine has received much more research attention than any other food or beverage product.

Taste

There’s so much to explore when sipping wine: from its aroma through to the finish, fruit, herb, mineral and barrel notes can all come through in your sip. But tasting isn’t always simple because the brain interprets wine differently depending on factors other than just its chemical makeup – the temperature can play an integral part. Serve New World chardonnay too cold and you will experience nothing but overpowering oak; serve the same wine warm instead and it will become more fruit-forward with crushed red fruit dominating its aromas. Color can also play an influential role in our perceptions. A University of Bordeaux study from 2001 conducted by 54 wine experts assessed their responses when presented with two glasses of superior Bordeaux wine; one red and the other white. Their language tended to be more complimentary when discussing red wines – particularly their descriptions like “jammy” and “long”. When discussing white wines they often used terms such as “jammy”.

First step to wine appreciation is seeing and sniffing it. Following a swirl and quick sniff, slowly swirl the wine around your mouth (don’t gulp or swallow) so as to feel all of its aromas; this allows the flavour compounds to reach all parts of your mouth and brain more readily allowing identification of fruits, flowers, herbs, spices or barrel.

Smell

Once you’ve examined your wine, taking a good sniff will provide another view on what you’re drinking. Professional tasters sometimes insert their nose all the way into a glass of wine and inhale deeply; some even close their eyes so as to better focus on their scents. There is no wrong technique – find what works for you.

Smell can evoke memories of certain times, places, or people due to our olfactory system’s adaptability; one whiff of Chanel No 5 might bring back childhood memories, while burning coal might make you shudder with fear!

Aromas in wine tend to depend on the grape variety used; for instance, Sauvignon Blanc usually exhibits citrus and tropical fruit notes while Cabernet Franc stands out with its herbaceous scents. Other common aromas in wines are vanilla, coconut and nuts (from esters) along with red fruits and black fruit from phenols.

Although certain aromas might seem disconcerting, they can actually help determine wine quality and flaws. For example, if the wine smells of rotten eggs or needs cleaning due to hydrogen sulfide (cork taint). Or if cabbage, farts or canned vegetables from methyl mercaptan is detected; that could indicate excess volatile sulfur compounds present.

Aroma

Aromas (the scents associated with wine) provide us with a valuable window into its composition and taste, and are an integral component of initial flavor perception1.

Oenology defines three levels of aromas in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary aromas. Primary aromas can be related to grape varieties, vineyards or wine regions and their climate; secondary aromas result from winemaking or ageing processes; while third level aromas refers to those created through fermentation processes or ageing processes.

Secondary aromas come from fermentation yeast used during winemaking processes, while tertiary aromas are the delicate scents left lingering at the end of a sip; these could include tobacco notes, coffee notes or even an unmistakable hint of nuttiness.

When tasting wine, make sure your palate is clear before starting free association – this will allow your senses to focus on its aromas rather than any negative connotations or insult that could potentially come up – such as tobacco smoke versus straw grass rain jam or blueberries – thus helping you focus more on its aroma than on your preconceptions or prejudices.

The Melbourn Wine Store

Wine Shop Melbourne is one of Melbourne’s finest wine shops, providing an impressive range of white and red wines, champagnes and sparkling wines, spirits & mixers, beer & cider as well as gift packs & accessories that complement their products. Open seven days a week they also provide delivery services on orders placed before 3 pm for orders that come through their shop wine delivery in Melbourne.

Local Vinote Wine provides an impressive selection of beer, wine and spirits as well as gift boxes that make great presents. Their service is reliable and products arrive on time; furthermore their website is easy to navigate; there is even a virtual tour available if you cannot physically visit their store!

LOCALS

The owners of this store hail from Melbourne. They are passionate about what they do, and aim to share it with others. Their mission is to source high-quality wines and liqueurs for an extraordinary culinary experience while offering professional yet courteous customer service.

Wine Shop Melbourne features over 1000 wines from Australia and worldwide as well as beverages like whiskeys, gins, vodkas and rums. Wine tasting sessions can also be scheduled. You can place orders online through their website or visit them in store.