Taste

Question 1

Why does wine have flavours that resemble fruity, floral, chemical etc. notes?

Answer 1

Volatile compounds from the juice of grapes and in combination of yeast and oak produce additional aromas and flavours.

Question 2

Where do aromas and flavours come from?

Answer 2

1. From the grapes themselves (usually fruity, floral, herbaceous, vegetative smells)
2. From yeast fermentation (‘bready’, lactic, buttery)
3. Aging from oxygen exposed wine, usually in oak barrel (spicy, woody, vanilla)

Question 3

What product of wine may effect the mouth feel?

Answer 3

• Alcohol - hot and thick
• Sugar - smooth but thick (syrupy)
• Tannin - drying sensation, almost grainy
• Temperature - cold appears fresh, crisp and more acidic, hotter appears more viscous and ripe and sweeter

Question 4

What are 6 basic tastes (that we know of)

Answer 4

• Bitter (dry)
• Salty (minerality)
• Sour (acidic)
• Umami (savoury)
• Sweet (sugary)
• Fat?

Question 5

What are two aspects of winemaking that strongly influence the flavour and quality of wine?

Answer 5

• Ripeness - affected by temperature

* Climate - cool, warm, hot or maritime