Wine tasting is an enjoyable and educational experience that involves using all your senses to appreciate different wines' flavors, aromas, and textures. But did you know that you can enhance your wine-tasting experience by trying wine-infused chocolate truffles? These delicious, mouthwatering treats can help you develop your palate and improve your wine-tasting skills. First, we will explore how to properly taste wine and then explain how you can apply those techniques to tasting wine in Uncorked chocolate. Along the way, have your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, or Merlot wine and truffle in hand!

Tasting wine follows five simple, easy-to-remember steps: see, smell, sip, swirl, and savor.

The first step to tasting wine is to examine its appearance. Hold your wine glass up to a light source and note the color and clarity of the wine. Red wines range from pale ruby to deep garnet, while white wines range from light straw to golden yellow. The wine's clarity can also provide important information about the winemaking process and aging. Spinning the wine and watching how it falls down the glass gives insight into its sugar content.

Next, it's time to take in the wine's aroma. Swirl the wine in your glass to release its scent, and then take a sniff. Try to identify the different smells, ranging from fruity to earthy to floral. This is also a good time to assess the wine's intensity and complexity.

Now it's time to taste the wine. Take a sip and let it swirl around in your mouth to fully experience the flavors. Identify the different fruit, spice, and other flavors in the wine. Assess the wine's acidity, tannins, and body. Tannins are the bitter compounds in red wine that provide structure and astringency (when your mouth feels dry or dusty), while acidity provides balance and freshness. The body refers to the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth.

Finally, assess the wine's finish, which refers to the aftertaste it leaves in your mouth. A long finish is a sign of a high-quality wine. Savor every moment.

Now, how can you apply these steps to Uncorked Wine-Infused Truffles? Easily! The truffles use a by-product of the winemaking process that still captures each wine varietal's essence and flavor. Then, the wine is incorporated into the center to perfectly enhance that varietal's unique qualities.

When tasting wine-infused chocolate truffles, paying attention to the chocolate's texture and flavor before trying the truffle is essential. Take note of the chocolate's sweetness, bitterness, and creaminess.
Next, take a bite of the truffle and let it melt slowly in your mouth to fully experience the flavors and prep your pallet. At Uncorked, we know that the second and third bite is when the flavors really start to develop. This helps you identify the different fruit, spice, and other flavors in the truffle and try to match them to the characteristics of the wine. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon has primary notes of black fruits and spices and is dry, full-bodied with medium-high tannins and medium acidity. Merlot has notes of red fruits and is bone dry, medium-full bodied, medium-high tannins, and medium acidity. Chardonnay has a wide range, but at Uncorked, we use unoaked Chardonnay that is brighter, cleaner, sweeter and has low tannins.

So there you have it! Wine tasting doesn't have to be intimidating. You can quickly develop your palate and knowledge by applying these techniques to tasting wine and our wine-infused chocolate. Impress yourself and your friends, all while enjoying a luxurious treat!