Vino!

One thing I've learned so far...drinking wine is seriously an art form in Tuscany. On Monday nights, I have a wine tasting class, and I feel like I've learned so much already. In each class we taste four different wines of a specific region of Italy. This week was Piedmont, so we tried Barbera, Dolcetto, Borgo and Moscato for a dessert wine. The technique for wine tasting is so fun.

First, you fill the glass about 1/4 with wine. You immediately look at the color of the wine. You can tell exactly where the grape is grown, the climate and even the type of soil it comes from based on the color. Second, you swirl the wine around in the glass a few times. You have to pay attention to the way the wine archs around the sides of the glass. The longer it takes for the wine to settle again shows its thickness. The thicker the wine, the more alcoholic it is. ( I think that's right). Then, you smell the wine. The scent also shows the type of grape used and where it comes from. Finally, the best part--tasting the wine! You take a small sip, move it around in your mouth a little, and make sure to get some oxygen in your mouth as well so the taste of the wine can take full effect. 

Apparently from studying the grapes and the areas around Italy in which they're grown, you can tell exactly what type of wine you're actually drinking. You can even tell the age of the wine. Obviously I'm no expert but I just wanted to share what I learned so far. Hopefully by December I'll be a wine tasting professional. 

Plus..it's not so bad leaving class a little tipsy. ;) 

Happy drinking!

Ciao xoxo

MB