Why do some people not enjoy the taste of wine?

The taste of wine can be one of the great pleasures in life but what if you never get to enjoy wine? The main reason why some people never get to enjoy wine is because they have not found the right wine for them.

A glass of wine can taste like an alcoholic fruit punch to a symphony of flavours and textures. Somewhere in between there is something for everyone.

Over time our taste preferences change. Younger people tend to prefer sweeter beverages and over time we develop a preference for dryer, richer more complex flavours.

If you have never really enjoyed the taste of wine but would like to do so, where should you begin?

Wines are often judged by particular fruit flavours. To begin your journey why not choose a young white wine with citrus or tropical fruit flavours, often associated with the grape variety Chardonnay, or a red wine with ripe summer berry flavours, such as young Tempranillo or youthful Merlot.

These wines can have the sensation of sweetness because of the ripe fruit flavours.

Sweetness in wine manifests itself in different ways. A wine can have a high level of natural sugar, like a moscatel from Valencia or a German Riesling classified as ‘Auslese’. The best wines display a wonderful variety of flavours that can be a nice way of discovering wines your like.

Dryness can give wine a crisp or slightly sharp taste. Quite often this will be more refreshing but if you take your coffee with lots of sugar then these wines are not for you at the beginning of your wine journey.

However, if the description of the wine indicates that it has abundant ripe fruit flavours that will mask the dryness of the wine.

We notice the acidity in wine by the crisp freshness that makes our mouths water. Likewise eating an orange or apple we react in a similar way. If your don’t like acidic foods then you will notice this when you taste a wine that is high in acidity.

A key element of wine, particularly red wine, is tannin, which is found in the skins and pips and also from the oak barrels. Tannin is sometimes confused with acidity, however, it is completely different.

Whereas acidity makes your mouth water, a wine with a high level of tannin will have a dry ‘puckering’ effect, like a strong cup of English tea. So if you take your coffee strong and black you are probably more tolerant to an oakier style of wine.

Finally, try not to judge the wine or be influenced by the supposed reputation or price. Taste is personal so you need to find what works for you.

Taste regularly, ask questions, trust you judgement and push yourself to discover the joy in the taste of wine.

Wine tasting should be fun, so get together with friends and discover something new. The wine that opens the doors to this wonderful world maybe the next one you taste.