Sun Valley Property News July 2014

Flex Your Wine Muscles: Tips for Keeping up With the Pros

We want you to have an awesome time at the Wine Auction. We also want you to feel comfortable standing next to a guy who has an enviable cellar and might test your knowledge to see if you can hang with the big guns. Below are some quick tips so your grip won’t falter under pressure. Relax and enjoy the nectar. 

Quiz Time:
What varietals can make up a Bordeaux blend?
-While most people can name the big three — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot — this blend may also include Petit Verdot and Malbec. For a white, a Bordeaux blend usually refers to Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, and Muscadelle. 

Why swirl the wine in your glass?
-Swirling increases the surface area of wine to oxygen and aerates the wine just as decanting would, allowing the aroma of a wine to come out. It can also give you a better view to examine clarity and color when not at maximum opaqueness.

Prepare your palate:
The worst thing to do before a marathon tasting is to burn your taste buds. So, avoid foods that are overpoweringly flavorful, spicy, or acidic for 12 hours or else those salt and vinegar chips will be informing everything you sip on. Keep it neutral - but definitely eat something substantial, so you can stand strong and confident (not wobbling by your fourth station) without slurring your new list of wine descriptors (see below). 

Time to taste:
Running out of adjectives? Think outside the box. Refer to the list below and think about them while tasting and smelling — maybe you will recall a work from the list below and sound like a pro.