So I have the best boyfriend in the world (barfff). He took me away on a mysterious weekend getaway…and for once, he managed to keep it a secret! I had no idea where we were going, and was so stoked when we arrived in Niagara. (Okay so I had kiiiiind of an idea, but still a sweet surprise!)
We ate, we drank (shocking), we played at the arcade…I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend with my favourite person. The coolest part of the weekend was going on a wine tour! I’ve never been to a wine tasting, and quite frankly I don’t know anything about wine. I know I like cheap alcohol and wine that is easy-drinking. I also like to pretend to be a wine connoisseur and pretentiously swirl my glass under my nose.
While I still wouldn’t call myself a wine expert, I did manage to learn one or two things this weekend. I brought my DSLR to document the trip, but honestly we were having too much fun to deal with a real camera. My iPhone did the trick! Here’s a mini photo diary following a list I’m calling “Shit I Learned About Wine.”
1. Ice wine is disgustingly sweet. If you’re into that kind of thing, try not to let the wine touch the tip of your tongue. Keep it towards the back of your mouth, and the taste becomes much more tolerable.
1b. I hate ice wine.
2. You know how red wine always makes your mouth feel dry? It’s because of tannin. Honestly idk how it actually chemically affects you, but what I do know is that it deprives your mouth of protein. That’s why red wine pairs well with cheese or steak…these foods restore the protein! #science
3. Sparkling wine that has foil around the neck? Yeah, not just for decoration. Turns out most of these bottles have foil to hide the fact that the bottle isn’t full. Usually this comes from the process of removing yeast from the bottle (complicated and gross, this is what I got from the tour). Trius (as well as Peller Estates) boasts to topping off their sparkling wine to ensure a full bottle every time.
4. Here’s a step-by-step guide of a structured wine tasting:
– Hold your glass at a 45 degree angle towards the light to ensure that the liquid isn’t cloudy.
– Smell the wine (it shouldn’t smell mouldy or vinegary).
– Swirl the wine in the glass to open the notes (or something, idk it’s fun)
– Sniff again, and it should smell stronger than before.
– Take a small sip and swish it in your mouth to cleanse your palate. Be sure to make some sort of pensive face, when really it just tastes like wine.
– Finish the bottle.
