Wine Varietals in Wine Tasting #2
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec

Wine Words in Wine Tasting #2
Body, Tannin, Acid

This tasting features these great styles of red wine, Earthy and Smooth. These are wines for drinking and pairing with food. To prepare for the tasting take a quick look at how to organize a wine tasting. If you are ready to buy wine, the suggested wines for this tasting can be found by searching our wine reviews section for Earthy wines and Smooth wines.

Tasting the Earthy Wine

Starting with the Earthy wine, take a look at the color. Generally, Earthy wines are lighter than Smooth wines. Shades of ruby and garnet are common.

Pay particular attention to the nose of the Earthy wine. Aromas of red cherry, cranberry, damp earth, and barnyard”are common. Note the intensity of the aromas. If you did Tasting #1 you probably notice that the aroma of the Earthy wine is less intense. You may also notice that many Earthy wines from Europe do not have a pronounced aroma of oak or vanilla.

The flavor profile for Earthy wine includes red cherry, strawberry, raspberries, and licorice. Does the wine make your mouth water? Some Earthy wines, particularly those made with Pinot Noir grapes, have enough acid in them to trigger your saliva glands. This acid also makes these wines very food friendly.

Can you detect the alcohol in the Earthy wine? Alcohol levels below 12.5 to 13% usually do not tickle your nose.

What do the tannins feel like? Frequently the tannins in Earthy wines are described as silky. Think back to the Bold wine from Tasting #1. How do the tannins of the Bold wine compare to the Earthy wine?

What is the body of the Earthy wine? Earthy wines are typically medium to medium-full bodied.

Tasting the Smooth Wine

Take a look at the Smooth wine and compare it to the Earthy wine. Smooth wines are typically darker than Earthy wines.

The flavor profile for Smooth wines includes blackberry, cherry, plum, vanilla, and spice. Does the Smooth wine make your mouth water? Smooth wines do not have enough acid to trigger your saliva glands.

What is the texture of the tannins in the Smooth wine? The texture of tannin in most Smooth wine ranges from silky to velvety.

How does the body of the Smooth wine compare to the Earthy wine? The body of these two wines is probably similar. The main differences between these wines are their flavor profiles and acid levels.

What to Do Next…

Now that you have tasted these two wine styles side by side, which do you like better? Search our wine reviews section for either Earthy wines or Smooth wines. Also, you can continue on and do the other wine tastings.