So you know your way around a cellar door, you’ve experienced many a casual tasting and now you’re ready to learn more. This is a great time to take on a more in-depth exploration, particularly if you are keen to discover more about a favourite region, winery or variety, or all three. Here are some of the more common terms used to describe a wine tasting that goes that little bit further. 

Vertical tasting

In a vertical tasting, different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted and discussed. The idea is to emphasise the differences between various vintages and learn about how environmental influences and age affect the taste of a wine.

Horizontal tasting

In a horizontal tasting, the wines are all from the same vintage but are from different wineries. This is a great option if you are a fan of a certain varietal but want to zero in on a favourite producer.

Barrel tasting

During the ageing process, wine is regularly tasted by a winemaker and his team. It is tasted in various stages of development in order to determine its progress and direction, and to ascertain whether the adjustments are necessary. The aim is to determine when the wine is ready to be blended and bottled. A barrel tasting, therefore, allows visitors to taste wines in an unfinished state, which can provide a greater understanding of the flavour profile of the end result.

Master class

Usually pre-booked and held in groups in a private area of a winery or restaurant, a master class involves engaging in a more detailed tasting and discussion, usually with a single theme - for example a certain region or winery or variety - and are usually conducted by either a winemaker or wine expert who is able to offer in depth guidance about the characteristics of the wines you are tasting. 

Structured wine tasting

This is confusing because we often hear of a wine having ‘structure’ which relates to its texture and feel, however a structured wine tasting is much like a master class in that it is a more detailed wine tasting, often with a specific purpose or agenda, such as food matching or region specific. In terms of formality, a structured wine tasting tends to sit somewhere in the middle between a casual tasting and a master class.

Sensory experience

A sensory experience is usually designed to help all level of tasters develop the ability to identify aromas and flavour profiles of wines. Learn, for example how chocolate, honey, berry and caramel flavours can ‘get into’ the wine, how to identify those aromas and flavours (known as ‘notes’) when tasting a wine, and how they are influenced when combined with food.

***

Naturally the UWEA members offer a variety of in-depth tastings.  Here is a small selection of what is on offer:

Heroes of Margaret River, Voyager Estate

Margaret River is known world-wide for producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, along with the quintessential blend of Sauvignon Blanc Semillon. Voyager Estate is pleased to showcase these acclaimed varietals through our Heroes of Margaret River Guided Tasting.

Jacob's Creek Sensory Experience with Lunch

Our taste buds can be very complex and our brain can trick us using our five senses. In this interactive workshop our staff will test your brain, challenge your taste buds with common and unusual combinations and hopefully teach you a thing or two.

Penfolds Taste Masterclass

Enjoy a structured master class in our new, private tasting rooms. Our Cellar Door Ambassador will guide you through selection of our wines each carefully matched with the perfect cheese.

For more wine education experiences, click here.