Writing effective tasting notes can be challenging, yet an essential skill for those interested in wine. A well written tasting note can provide information about primary, secondary, and even tertiary flavors; body texture; way it finishes; structure (textural versus tensile); character traits like mineral or fruity characteristics as well as whether tannins are firm or richly powdery; etc.

Not all tasting notes are created equal; some use flowery language that may put off consumers, while others take a more technical approach which can be tiresome and difficult to read. Still others are incomprehensible even to non-experts.

Wine tasting notes remain increasingly popular despite these challenges, as most wines sold are to customers who have never sampled them before and a high numerical score can often make the difference between sales or rejections. Therefore, wine tasting notes have become essential tools in the wine business’s ongoing cycle from grape sourcing through sales and distribution.

William Kiernan and Andrew Jefford will join us to explore the role of wine tasting notes in today’s complex and ever-evolving industry. They’ll touch upon scoring, as well as how evocative and emotive language should coexist with more technical, descriptive writing styles.

Once again, being an untrained consumer can make identifying good quality wines at budget-friendly prices an inexact science. There are, however, indicators that can help distinguish a genuine premium bottle from glorified grape juice sold as cabernet sauvignon.

Begin by understanding which grape varieties and styles of wine are popular in your region, and which styles you tend to enjoy the most. Once you know this information, identify specific flavors you enjoy from other regions’ wines that provide comparable taste for more affordable prices – for instance if you love big red Bordeaux wines try looking in Chile or Washington state; for opulent chardonnays try considering options from Australia or South Africa.

When assessing wine, tasting flights are often the optimal method for evaluation. This allows one to remain impartial due to familiarity or expectation and ensures an objective evaluation process. One such blind test was the 1976 Judgment of Paris where French judges evaluated California wines against those from France – unexpectedly finding out that French wines weren’t superior.

One of the most critical tests for wine includes measuring alcohol content for label compliance purposes and acetic acid levels, which indicate spoilage microorganisms. Other important tests involve volatile acids, tannins and flavonols (which impact color stability), residual sugar levels and any heavy metal presence; while trained panels assess aroma, flavor, and overall quality through blind tastings.

Consumers increasingly favor wines that not only protect the environment but also serve them directly. This trend has resulted in an explosion of labels with various sustainable certifications that abide by various standards and requirements.

Organic and natural are clearly defined and regulated terms; however, sustainability can be more vague and unclear. With so many organizations and criteria that define it differently for different wines, wine buyers need to understand what each label represents to make informed choices when purchasing wine.

As an example, a winery may proclaim their wines are “Sustainable”, however this term can mean anything from reduced pesticide use during grape growing to using recycled glassware in production and shipping processes. To truly be considered sustainable, vineyards must go beyond simply using less synthetic chemicals – instead looking at overall soil health, energy efficiency and water conservation measures in addition to social responsibility as well as employee wages when considering sustainability measures.

But there are also more specialized labels, like Biodynamic, which takes an holistic approach to vine cultivation with emphasis on regenerative practices that align with both terrestrial and celestial forces, or the more globally recognised Organic or High Environmental Value certification, which prioritizes traceability, transparency, biodiversity conservation, as well as traceability of production.

Vegan labels, which signify wines that are free from animal products like meat and dairy, are becoming more and more common. By clearly communicating this fact on their labels, wineries can comply with regulations while meeting customer demand for these alternatives. A flexible label vendor can be invaluable in creating labels tailored specifically to wineries’ goals – by communicating what you’re after with them they can ensure you receive products of exceptional design and functionality!