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Outwines

Studying the Wine World One Outline at a Time

Tasting Notes

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What’s most important about a wine list? 🤔 That it has a range of price points? A large by the glass selection? Unique bottles? 🍷 ◾️ I’m guilty of researching wine lists before choosing a restaurant. 🧐 And oftentimes the wine list is a deciding factor for me. If it’s unimaginative (like 90% Cali Cabs and Chards) - I’m guessing their food isn’t going to be very exciting either. 🤷🏻‍♀️ ◾️ I like to see at least a *little* imagination on a wine list. Along with the typical Prosecco - maybe there’s also a Crémant de Limoux. 🥂 Or hidden amongst all the Pinot Grigios is a Grüner. [insert #whitewineemoji here] And maybe one of those 20+ Cabernet Sauvignon offerings is from Margaret River. 🇦🇺 ◾️ What do you look for in a wine list? 😀 ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #winelist #winetasting #sommelier #winestagram #wineenthusiast #winegeek #wineglass #wset #outwines
We’ve all probably heard the term “Wine a-ha” moment. But what about a “Wine Holy S&*$” moment? Ever had one of those?! 😂 ◾️ Pardon my French 😉, but the French Wine Scholar program was my Wine Holy S&*$ moment. I initially took the program back in 2014 with one of my favorite instructors @mommywine. 🍷👩🏻‍🏫 ◾️ The FWS made me realize just how much there was to learn in the wine world! You could dork out on any number of subjects: history, soils, geography, regulations, etc. 🤓📚 It’s also when I started making my study outlines (and I’ll be putting some on my blog over the coming weeks!) 👍🏻 The program opened my eyes, my palate and my mind to wine study - and I haven’t looked back! 😀 ◾️ My #wsetdiploma school teaches the FWS program as part of their instruction for the dreaded Unit 3. 🤯 Tonight is the first class, and I can’t wait to see if anyone else has a Wine Holy S&*$ moment! 😀 🇫🇷 Have YOU had one? What was it?? ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #wineeducation #wineeducationweek #winewednesday #frenchwine #winestudent #winestudy #frenchwinescholar #wset #wsetdiploma #outwines
Have you tried wines from Mexico?? 🙋🏻‍♀️🍷 I’ve only had a few so far, and honestly - I’ve got some mixed feelings. 🤔Hoping someone can help me find more winners from this region . . . 🤞🏻 ◾️ Both of these wines were from Valle de Guadalupe in Baja. 🇲🇽The Grenache Blanc was . . . fine. 😐 Yellow apples, honeydew melon, decent acidity. Nothing offensive, but nothing to get overly excited about either. 🤷🏻‍♀️ The Chenin had some interesting oxidative notes - nuts and honey 🥜🍯. But it was sadly lacking that characteristic zippiness of Chenin (which is one of the reasons I love this variety!) ◾️ Maybe I’m not trying the right/best varieties? Are reds from this region “better”? If you have any suggestions - let me know! 😀 ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #mexicanwine #valledeguadalupe #whitewine #mehwine #bajawines #winetasting #winestagram #outwines
Why blind taste wine? 🍷🙈 For competition? To remove unconscious bias? To learn? All of the above? 👍🏻 ◾️ Blind tasting shouldn’t be all about getting the wine “right.” Obviously, it’s awesome when you DO 😉 - but it’s also important to understand the WHY. 🤔 ◾️ Why did you think the Albariño was a Grüner (I’m constantly mixing these up!) Or why did you think the Cabernet Sauvignon was a Chardonnay? (if this is the case - maybe you should grab a 🍺 next time!) 😜 ◾️ For me - blind tasting has helped remove some of my bias towards inexpensive wines. 😬 Some of those under $15 bottles are tasty! (Martin Codax Albariño I’m looking at you!) 🧐 What’s something you’ve learned by blind tasting? 🤓🍷🙈 ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #winetasting #blindtasting #winestudy #wineeducation #winestudent #WSET #wsetdiploma #outwines
Do you like old wines? 🍷👴🏻👵🏻 I’m afraid I have a rather unpopular opinion in the wine world, I really don’t enjoy most old wines. 🤷🏻‍♀️ ◾️ This isn’t saying that I don’t appreciate them or find them interesting though. 🧐 I recently attended a class with @winetravel where we tasted several German Rieslings -ranging from a 2015 to a 1990. 😳 ◾️ The 2015 was fresh and vibrant with zippy citrus and slate. 🍋🍏. The 1990 had flavors of caramel, nuts, dried fruit and lots of (too much?) petrol. ⛽️This wine was definitely richer and more complex. And while it was enjoyable to *discuss* this wine, I didn’t love actually drinking it. 😕 ◾️ It’s impressive when a decades old wine is “still alive.” This term is frequently used as a descriptor when someone tastes an older wine - they’re in awe that the wine still has life left in it. 💪🏻🍷 And that IS amazing! But personally, for pure enjoyment, I prefer a wine that’s a bit younger - more vibrant and energetic. 😀 ◾️ What’s your preference? Older wines? Younger wines? Somewhere in between? 👵🏻🍷👩🏻🍷👧🏻 ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #agedwine #riesling #mywinesmellslikeagasstation #winetasting #winecollector #wset #wsetdiploma #wineschool #outwines
Who are your favorite wine writers? 📝🍷 ◾️ For as much as I love reading (and wine!), I cannot BELIEVE that it was just last week that I picked up my first Oz Clarke book! He’s such a fabulous storyteller. 📚 From his first sip of wine at age 3, to growing up in the kitchen with his mum, to acting on stage - he’s developed a fascinating life and palate. 👍🏻🍷 ◾️ This gem of his has already resonated with me: “Always follow your first impressions. Always immediately note down any flavour that flashed across your mind, however outlandish, because if you had caught sight of a flavour - truly, honestly, not just trying to impress the group - then that flavour was there, and it could become your personal recognition trigger in a blind tasting.” 😊 ◾️ Any personal recognition triggers for you? Mine are my Grammy’s perfume for Chinon and falling off my bike on a hot summer street for Pinotage. 😜 ◾️ ◾️ ◾️ #wine #winebook #ozclarke #winewriter #winetasting #winelovers #tastingnotes #wset #wsetdiploma #wineblog #winestudy #outwines

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