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Phone - (02) 6033 6000
Mon - Sat: 10am to 5pm
Sun: 10am - 4pm

Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day
Private tasting & bus group by appointment.

Campbells Wines
4603 Murray Valley Highway, PO Box 44, Rutherglen, Victoria 3685, AUSTRALIA

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Campbells Winery

(02) 6033 6000

4603 Murray Valley Highway Rutherglen Victoria 3685

Get directions

Cellar Door

Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 4pm

Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day. Private tasting & bus group by appointment.

More information

 

Starting out on your wine journey

Starting out on your wine journey can seem very daunting!

Words like tannins, finish, length – what do they mean. Let us help demystify the world of wine tasting. Wine tasting should be fun, interesting, and enjoyable. Don’t be put off by complicated descriptors. Let’s dive in.

Here we will run through the five S’s of wine tasting and give you the confidence to walk into any cellar door and feel a little more at ease. Remember, the best way to learn about wine is to drink it.

SEE

Looking at the wine in a glass can offer you a sense of the style and age of the wine. White wines gain colour as they age, while red wines lose colour. In the glass, look at the wine from above, from side to side then tilt the glass to look through it (preferably against a white background). As a rule, colour saturation tends to go hand in hand with flavour intensity.

SWIRL

Give it air! Before taking a sip swirl the wine to release the aromas. If you are new at swirling hold the glass at the base and move it in a circular motion on the bench. Sweeter wines will be denser and leave thick, viscous streaks otherwise known as legs down the inside of the glass.

SMELL

Put your nose into the glass and take a deep sniff. What can you smell? This is known as the nose of the wine. What does the aroma remind you of? Certain fruits or vegetables or herbs and spices. Wine quality can be judged by its bouquet and taste. The bouquet is the total aromatic experience of the wine.

SIP

Take a slightly larger sip than usual and hold the wine in your mouth for 3-5 seconds letting it coat the whole surface. It’s now that the complex taste experience and characteristics really start to happen. Can you taste sweetness, fruitiness, saltiness, bitterness, acidity or alcohol? Mouth feel can vary from the texture of milk to the texture of water. Tannins can also contribute to the feel of the wine. Tannins add astringency and complexity to a wine. They can leave you with that dry, almost chalky feeling in your mouth.  They can also be fine, with a soft velvety mouthfeel or more overt and feel much more grippy.

SAVOUR

Does the taste linger? This is where the swallowing comes into play. It can be very different from the taste you get on your palate.  Look for an alcohol taste (there shouldn’t be one) and length. This is the length of time the wine taste stays with you. This length of time is called the ‘finish” and great wines can linger on the palate.

 

WINE TASTING TIPS

  • Take your time
  • Fill your glass to 1/3 full
  • Avoid wearing strong perfume or aftershave
  • Have a budget in mind if you are looking to purchase
  • Expensive doesn’t mean you will necessarily enjoy it more
  • Ask questions
  • Keep notes for future reference
  • Think about the aromas that immediately come to mind
  • Keep an open mind. Try wines outside of your comfort zone

 

Most importantly enjoy your experience. Wine is not just an object of pleasure. It’s an object of knowledge and the pleasure depends on your knowledge.

 



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