Sniff, swirl, sip. wine tasting 101

There is probably nothing bad I can say about wine.

I love how confident holding a glass of it makes me feel.

I enjoy how it has a way of making a situation sexier, more sophisticated, even one as casual as watching a movie.

When I heard Feb. 18 was National Drink Wine Day, I knew I had to celebrate. So I scheduled myself a wine tasting at Nassau Valley Vineyard in Lewes.

The tasting was lead by Jessica Rosenberg, the winery's wedding coordinator.

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She was knowledgeable and passionate about Nassau Valley wines, in addition to being easy to talk to. I was happy about all of these things, because I know in order to have a successful wine tasting, you've got to have a good host.

You also have to keep an open mind.

Wine tasting is a personal, subjective thing. Everyone has his or her own preferences, and what you smell, taste, and think about a wine is different from somebody else. Don't be afraid to ask questions, either. Your host is there to help you, so let them.

Before beginning a tasting, it is important to remember to hold a wine glass lightly by the stem. Holding it by the bulb will heat up the wine and distort its flavor.

Once the wine is poured for you, refrain from trying it and instead, take a look at it.

For the wine professional, this is the first clue to how old the wine may be and how well it has held up.

Tilting the glass can make it easier to see the way the color changes from the center to the edges. Hold the glass in front of a white background, such as a napkin, tablecloth, or sheet of paper, to make out the wine's truest color.

Now give your wine a sniff.

Initially, you should hold the glass a few inches from your nose. Then let your nose dive a half-inch or so into the glass, Rosenberg said.

Lightly begin to swirl your glass while continuing to sniff. Swirling is not just for the movies. It increases the surface area of the wine by spreading it over the inside of the glass. This also allows some oxygen into the wine, which will help open up its aromas.

A great wine, Rosenberg said, is as enticing on the nose as it is on the tongue. So if you don't think a wine smells good, it likely won't taste good.

After you've determined whether or not you want to try the wine through your senses of sight and smell, take a sip.

Let it linger in your mouth.

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Roll the wine around on your tongue, exposing it to all of your taste buds. Pay attention to its texture and other characteristics, such as the weight or body (how the wine feels physically). You should ask yourself, what are the initial flavors that stand out?

Common flavors often described include fruits and berries, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon and chocolate, as well as floral, herbal and earthy scents like soils and minerals. I had trouble picking out such flavors but Rosenberg assured me this gets easier with practice.

Since wine was designed to complement food, and vice versa, wine tastings will often offer some sort of food pairing.

When I sampled the winery's chardonnay, Rosenberg gave me a few pieces of popcorn, which I was skeptical about. She told me to try the wine, eat a piece of popcorn and then take another sip.

The second sip of wine seemed to explode in my mouth, much more so than the first.

This is because the chardonnay was aged in oak. It had a rich buttery, earthly flavor which was accentuated by the popcorn.

When I tried, the Peach Ambrosia, Rosenberg served it with a small cup of Anna's ginger snap thins. This pairing may have even been better than the chardonnay and popcorn.

The wine was semi-sweet, made from 100 percent fermented peach juice. I loved the real fruit flavor it had, as well as some subtle hints of spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Paired with the ginger cookies, the wine tasted like a slice of peach cobbler.

With every new taste and experience, I found myself learning more about wine than I thought was possible. Wine is a living, breathing thing. It requires the utmost respect — with a good sniff, a good swirl and a good sip.

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If You Go

Nassau Valley Vineyards

Where: 32165 Winery Way, Lewes

When:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Call: 302-645-9463

Visit: http://www.nassauvalley.com