If there’s one drink that’s popular across the globe for its experience, it’s wine. A glass of wine is not just another utensil holding a drink, it is the embodiment of the origin of the wine, its making process and a symbolism of its brand.The creation of wine is such a unique and artistic route that people travel across countries to get a first-hand experience of it.While the process of making the wine is important, there’s a certain way of drinking it that is said to enhance the flavour. From a particular kind of glass to a particular direction of swirls, there are some wine etiquettes that lovers of the beverage swear by in order to taste the best flavours. Some of these etiquettes, such as swirling the wine before drinking are followed by many but the reason behind it is not known by most.
Wines have three different aromas
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Wines have three types of aromas- primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary aromas are obtained from the variety of grapes and can be perceived with the glass still as they are more volatile and don’t require movement to be perceived. Secondary aromas are derived from fermentation and tertiary aromas are generated during the aging stage of the wine.
Why do people swirl their wine before drinking?
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The movement of swirling the wine inside the glass is a part of the olfactory phase of tasting. The process is known as Orbital movement or orbital shaking. The main reason for doing so is to allow the wine’s aromas to increase due to the exchange of fluids between the surface and the interior of the glass. The heavier molecules sitting at the bottom of the glass wake up and give clues to the secondary and tertiary aromas of the wine.It also allows oxygen to enter the wine and help increase its aromas.
The right way to swirl the wine
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Once you know why swirling the wine is important, you must also keep in mind some factors to ensure the correct swirling and a great experience.Firstly, the wine glass should not be filled more than 1/3 of its capacity and not more than half. While this saves the wine from spilling, it also saves space for the aromas to concentrate inside the glass.Secondly, when swirling the wine, it is recommended to rotate the wine glass in small circular movements in the anti-clockwise direction.
