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When we need to make a choice for our collection or on a #finewine list, how hard can it be, right? Admittedly we all probable would love to have to make the choices of this wine cellar keeper more often, as these are only the very top. While this little video is funny, the main difficulty with #wine is the paradox of choice, when you had vintages, context, food pairing, aging and personal taste, the outcome would be very different for everyone of us, and there isn’t any right or wrong answer, just #choice. Which makes me think of a very classical bias when it comes to our wine choices: we traditionally always want to know what others think, while most of us including professionals haven’t really tried all the bottles of a wine list so it’s a “extensional” guessing game from previous memories and knowledge. And then why does it matter what other people think? They don’t have your taste, and they’re not necessarily pairing the wine with the same dish as you, they don’t necessarily have the same mood etc… Trust the sommelier or your friend if you don’t know anything about wine, otherwise just trust your taste memories, your gut feeling and what your emotional state is at the moment of choice. How the wine will be once you pop the cork might surprise you anyway. My epiphany moments in wine were never after a very long thoughtful overthinking process of which wine I should take on a list, but rather unexpected. That’s what I call the magic of wine. Cheers!

Size does matter! Imagine kicking off your party with a large format, magnum wine bottle instead of the usual 750ml. It would easily be the star of the night! When it comes to a bottle of wine, the bigger it is, the better the overall experience. What’s special about a magnum bottle ? 1️⃣Perfect for Celebrations A large format bottle of wine will make your party one to remember, more so if the magnum is a Brut Champagne cuvee or some other sparkling wine. 2️⃣Lets Wine Age Well and It Tastes Better Large format bottles have slower oxidation, and wine is preserved for longer, making a magnum bottle ideal for aging. 3️⃣Higher Priced, But More Value for Money These exclusive, celebratory bottles of wine will always get a crowd going. They’re also age-worthy and guarantee very high quality. Having a dinner party? Here’s a tip: Your standard bottle will only be sufficient for four guests with two and a half pours of wine per person. If you have a larger group, having more 750ml bottles of wine is one option, but you can never be sure they taste the same! Instead, if you uncork a magnum bottle, 10 guests can enjoy at least one glass of wine — all tasting exactly the same. So, let me know in the comments below does size matter to you? Cheers! #sonalholland #masterofwine #magnum #winebottle #sizematters #magnumwine #winetip #wineexpert

We always add a note about the finish (or length) of a wine on our tasting notes. This is an important concept in the wine world and while self-explanatory it's worth thinking about, especially if you're wondering why a particular glass of wine tastes so good - or bad! You sniff, you sip and you swirl before swallowing (or spitting!) As the wine evolves in your mouth it will leave a vestige of flavour and form. The finish describes the taste and feel of this. We are always looking for wines that don't disappear on the palate, but leave a long, pleasant aftertaste, reminiscent of the aromas and flavours we've just enjoyed. In a red wine, we might also be looking for how much tannin remains in the mouth and on the teeth, and in a dessert wine, how much freshness, compared to clawing sweetness. In a white wine we might look for the amount of acidity, or the presence of unwanted additives that leave a furry feeling on the tongue, alongside the positive attributes. In essence, the finish of the wine is as important as that all important first sip - and is a key part of the wine tasting process. Find out more about wine in our ABC of Wine: https://loom.ly/0TuCNZQ #wineathome #winemaking #winelover #organicwine #artisanwine #redwine #whitewine #tastingnotes #wineworld #note #winetasting #learnaboutwine #winedelivery

Anyone else thinking about wine this early on a Tuesday? 😉 Have you ever wondered about wine legs? If you’ve ever been to a wine tasting, you may have heard the word “legs” being thrown around. Wine legs (also known as “tears”, or “church windows”) are the droplets of wine that form on the inside of a wine glass after you’ve given it a swirl. So, what are wine legs? The short answer is “science”. Wine legs are a scientific phenomenon called the Gibbs-Marangoni Effect - the result of fluid surface tension caused by the evaporation of alcohol. Are wine legs a sign of a quality wine? Wine legs are not an indication of the quality of wine; legs actually tell you relatively little about the wine, and nothing about the quality of what’s in the glass. The main information that legs offer is that your wine contains alcohol. But, let’s be real . . . you don’t need legs to tell you that. You can taste the higher alcohol and you can always look at the ABV on the bottle, right? Wines with higher alcohol content will form tears more easily. This is also true with wines that contain heavier molecules – such as tannins and sugar – which explains why tears are more likely to be seen in heavy reds and/or sweet wines. Temperature and humidity of a room also affect the rate at which wine legs form as well as the shape and texture of the glass which can change the evaporation/condensation surface area and the way particles interact with each other. You can see “wine legs” as an indicator of some of the wine’s structural characteristics, but never of its quality. To determine how good a wine is, you need to smell and taste to see if all of it’s characteristics are in balance. Have you ever noticed wine legs trickling down your glass? Tell me in the comments. #smellthecork #winebusiness #wineeducation #winetasting #wine #corkdork #scoutandcellar

Understanding and writing wine tasting notes can significantly enhance your wine appreciation. Here’s how to get started: Reading Tasting Notes: • Appearance: Describes the color and clarity. • Aroma: Notes the scents before tasting. • Taste: Focuses on the flavors. • Finish: Describes the aftertaste and duration. Writing Tasting Notes: 1. Look: Observe the wine’s color and viscosity. 2. Smell: Identify the aromas by swirling and sniffing. 3. Taste: Note the flavors on your palate. 4. Feel: Consider the wine’s body and texture. 5. Conclude: Summarize your overall impressions. By focusing on these elements, you can deepen your understanding and enjoyment of wine. Cheers to mindful tasting! 🍷 #WineTasting #ProfessionalDevelopment #PapillonSomm

How to be a better wine taster? 🍷 Wine tasting is about appreciating wine in all its glory. Wine experts use the 5S method to taste wine- see, swirl, sniff, sip and savour. Here are some tips to help you be a better wine taster 1️⃣ Don't smoke, drink tea or coffee or eat anything with strong flavours before the wine-tasting session 2️⃣ Don't wear an overpowering perfume to the tasting 3️⃣ Stay well hydrated and always drink some water between a few sips of wine 4️⃣ Don't just focus on the aromas, pay attention to the texture, mouthfeel and structure of your wine too An important aspect of wine tasting is spitting, but a lot of new tasters, think it is unnecessary and over-the-top. But most wine experts advocate spitting wine during tasting as it keeps them from getting drunk. However, this doesn't mean that you must only take one sip of wine. You can go in for a second or third sip too, till you are satisfied with your observations. Just remember to spit and hydrate. Tag your oenophile friends in the comments below and help them ace their wine-tasting game. Cheers! #sonalholland #masterofwine #winetips #wineexpert #WineTasting #winetastingexperience

Three Bays has changed the perception of water from being a palate cleanser to being a palate enhancer. For example, try pairing a good red wine with tap water; notice how tap water immediately kills all wine flavours. Then pair the same red wine with Three Bays Still; notice how the wine flavours linger and linger, the wine often takes on a whole new taste journey. It’s quite unbelievable! If you treat yourself a premium wine with a meal, would you want to kill the wine taste with tap water? NO! You’d want that wine to linger on the palate as long as possible. Why does Three Bays manage to enhance wine so much? It’s simply Three Bays very high mineral content AND the fact that Three Bays comes out of the ground naturally still. Such combination is extremely rare around the world. Grab a bottle of Three Bays Still, try for yourself.👌 #waterhastaste #waterisnotjustwater #watersommelier

Don’t let your wine go bad! If the bottle is open, it's likely that the contents, such as wine or champagne, have been exposed to air and may have undergone a process called oxidation, which can affect the flavor and quality. Here are a few options: 1️⃣Seal your wine bottle properly: If your wine bottle doesn’t have a cap, use a good stopper. This will prevent air from entering the bottle and keep your wine from oxidizing and turning into vinegar. 2️⃣ Store in the fridge: Keep the wine in the fridge to increase its shelf life. The cold temperature reduces chemical changes and decreases the chance of air interacting with the wine. 3️⃣ Drink it: Don’t forget about the wine once you’ve placed it in the fridge. Finish it within a day or two, or else it will spoil. Do you have any wine questions? Let me know in the comments below ! Cheers 🥂 #sonalholland #masterofwine #winelovers #winetips #wineetiquette #wineenthusiasts #wineexpert 

Excellent tips! What do you think about a few pieces of ice to clean the palate?