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2: Understand the visual properties of wine: Color and viscosity

The visual characteristics of the wine are the first thing we notice when pouring a glass of wine. These visual indicators can give us important clues about the wine's age, quality, and even grape variety.

The magic of color

When you start your blind tasting, the journey begins with your eyes, and color is your first clue. Take a good look at the glass. What do you see?

The color can give you a clue as to the age of the wine. Red wines tend to become lighter and more brick colored with age, while white wines become deeper and more golden. But the color can also give us a hint about the grape variety. Some grapes, like Pinot Noir, tend to produce a lighter red color, while others, like Cabernet Sauvignon, are often much darker.

A deep, dark color may suggest a full-bodied red wine, such as a young Cabernet Sauvignon, while a lighter, transparent color may indicate a more delicate red wine, such as a Pinot Noir. A golden, almost amber-colored white wine may suggest an older or oak-aged wine such as a Chardonnay, while a straw yellow or almost clear color may indicate a younger, fresher wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc.

Viscosity

Viscosity refers to how "heavy" the wine appears as it moves around in the glass. A wine with a high viscosity will leave "curtains" on the side of the glass when swung around. This can often be a sign of a wine with higher alcohol or sugar content.

But remember, none of these visual indicators should be used alone to determine a wine's quality or origin. They are tools to help us understand what to expect before we actually taste the wine. And when it comes to blind tasting, that's exactly what the goal is: to use all of our senses to help us determine what's in the glass.

So the next time you pour a glass of wine, take a moment to look at the wine's visual characteristics. You will be surprised how much you can learn about the wine before you take the first sip. And remember, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you become at spotting the visual clues.

Let Winetribe help you on this journey through the world of wine. With our blind tasting app, you can practice judging the wine's visual characteristics and much more. So order our tasting box, grab a glass of wine, download our app and start your blind tasting journey today!


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