As all new wine enthusiasts know describing the taste and aroma of a wine can be very elusive. The experts say “just go with what you like” or “there’s no right or wrong way to describe a wine.” I think they say that just to make the newbies feel better.

I am very new to the wine world. In fact, I’m pretty sure the sommelier wants to stab himself whenever I describe a wine as “grape-y” or having a “Robitussin finish.” At the very least it’s as entertaining as a trainwreck. I am a wine retard, or at least my tastebuds are. Some people are just born with an exquisite palate, but I clearly need help defining and communicating my wine impressions.

Well, there is hope. I discovered a Sunday Palate Builder class through www.LearnAboutWine.com and it takes place right here in Downtown at Molino Lofts in the Arts District. (Thank you, Google search engine.) The two-hour $75 course is taught by wine educator Ian Blackburn and is advertised as “the ultimate class for those of you who like wine but have a hard time describing what you smell, taste, feel and need more information and practice.” It took me all of 2 seconds to sign up.

Every wine enthusiast says the same thing. “The more I learn about wine, the more I realize how little I know.” Blackburn concurs that wine education is a lifelong process and a humbling experience. No matter how much you learn there is always more on the horizon.

Palate Building In Action

When I arrived at the class there were two sets of tables. One side was for the tasting as it was outfitted with the wine list, glasses, spittoons and a plate of cheese, salami, dried fruits and nuts. The other side was for “sensory training” and had an arrangement of vials of different scents and other whiffable ingredients grouped according to the type of wine they represent. For example, the Chardonnay group of scents included butter, vanilla, lime, banana and apple while the Cabernet group included cloves, jam, cranberries and coffee beans.”

Two servers poured us the first flight of aromatic whites. We were invited to swirl our glasses and take a whiff, then compare them with the scents on the other table.

Honey. Lavender. Apricot. White pepper. Lime. Ahhhh… it does make sense!

Blackburn explained that 50% of the tasting experience is through smell. “The nose is like a muscle,” he said. You just have to practice a lot to get really good at discerning and describing different scents. He also discussed the characteristics of each type of wine and the meaning of words like “fresh”, “young” and “unripe” as they pertain to the wine world. Next we tasted the wine and compared the experience to our initial impressions.

All That and a Pop Quiz

At the end of the flight we were tested on our new-found knowledge. An extra glass was poured but we weren’t told which bottle it was from. We were to smell, taste and guess which of the four previous wines it was. I could not believe I got it right. I actually felt a little less retarded.

Next we went through a Chardonnay flight, a Syrah flight and a Cabernet flight in similar fashion. In total we tasted 15 different wines in 2 hours. It was a little taxing and our tastebuds were exhausted. At the very end of the course we were poured 4 mystery reds for a “final exam.” Blackburn must be one heck of a teacher because almost everybody got it right!

If I keep at it I just might be able to take off my training wheels and helmet in a few years.

Even Wine Connosieurs Benefit From Additional Palate Training

The age range of the students was roughly 30’s to 40’s hailing from all parts of LA. Most the attendees were wine beginners like myself and some were clearly experienced winos. One woman had taken a previous course and returned because she enjoyed it so much and felt she improved considerably. Each class features a different selection of wines so the learning experience is never exactly the same.

I think this course is an excellent way to learn and experience wines in a logical, focused and structured manner. For example, tasting 4 different Chardonnays in a row allows one to learn the overall character of the varietal as well as the distinct differences in growing regions, such as France (old world) vs California (new world). Random wine tasting, while extremely fun, can become overwhelming and confusing for a beginner unless you have an excellent (and patient) sommelier at your side.

Learn About Wine hosts several wine tasting events and educational courses in Southern California. A membership with Learn About Wine gets you free corkage at several LA restaurants and waives the $5 service fee when you sign up for classes. They also offer an intensive 4-part wine credential program called L.A.W. School for those serious about wines and/or considering working in the wine industry.

Learn About Wine
www.learnaboutwine.com
(310) 451-7600

Stay tuned for the next installment of The Wine Chronicles. Next up, “DIY wine tasting at 626 Reserve”.

-the wine chronicles episode 1: a wine enthusiast’s hope and heartbreak
-the wine chronicles episode 2: Ralph’s as community (wine) cooler

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