Beginners guide to wine tasting: what you need to know in 3 easy steps!

If you're tempted to explore any of France's regions by bike but have never experienced a French wine tasting, then here is our beginner's guide to sipping, spitting, and indeed tasting wine in France on your cycle tour...

Wine tasting cycle tours in France

If you know anything about France, you'll know that French wines are among the very best in the world. So you might feel a little intimidated or nervous, should your wine knowledge not be very extensive, or you have never been to a wine tasting before.

But fear not - wine tasting is supposed to be enjoyable! Whilst you may feel under pressure to make relevant comments about what you are drinking, never forget that taste is completely subjective - you are allowed to have your own opinion!

The experts - your hosts - are there to share their knowledge, and make it a fun learning experience. And as a little bonus, on our cycle tours, your French-speaking guide is on hand to aid communication and help you through the process should you be unsure about anything.

What to expect at a wine tasting in France

Wine makers in France are wise and welcoming, and are there to help you understand and appreciate the wines they have worked so hard to make. Steeped in history, and often handed down through many generations, the vineyards and cellars of France are very atmospheric, and tasting wine is an immersive experience which will make you feel thoroughly French!

A "degustation" or wine tasting in France could take place in almost any location! Outside in the vineyards, in the cellar with the barrels, in a boutique, in a corner of the winemaking warehouse....

Your host will give each person a glass. They will then explain about the wines which you'll be tasting. Usually the order of the tasting will start at the lighter, fresher wines, and progress through to the most mature reds. If there is sparkling or rosé, these will be presented before the whites.

On the table will be a "spittoon" bucket, into which you can spit your wine if you wish, or empty your glass if you want to. (But it is perfectly OK to drink your wine!) Sometimes there will also be water for rinsing your glass, or for a sip between wines.

Good to know: the person who is 'hosting' the wine tasting will check the wine is OK before serving it, so you won't be put on the spot and asked whether it is "corked" or bad in any way. They wouldn't serve it, if it was.

Group of people wine tasting in a wine cellar in France

Which cycle tours are best for wine tastings?

Exploring the regions of France, you will without doubt come across vineyards. Where there are vines, there are wines! Wine tasting destinations are dotted around around the entire country.

These are some of our bike tours that include wine tastings:

A group of people wine tasting in France

How to taste wine in three easy steps

When we taste wines together during one of our cycle tour vineyard visits, follow these simple steps which will help you understand the tasting process and get more from the experience:

Step 1: Observe

You will be given a glass each, and the host will pour a small quantity into the glass for you.

Look closely at the wine's colour and clarity (you can hold the glass up against a white background to get a better view).
White wine can be very pale straw to deep gold in colour, this will depend mostly on the grape variety but also the age of the wine.
Red wines can range from quite purple-red, to very deep, rich burgundy. Take a look at the intensity of colour - is it quite transparent, or opaque? This can depend again on the grape variety, but also the age of the wine.
(Also note whether there is sediment in the bottom, and avoid drinking it!)

Step 2: Smell

Swirl: gently swirl the wine in your glass to air the wine, which helps the wine "open up" and release its aromas. You'll also see the wine's "legs" - these trickles running down the side of the glass after a swirl show how intense the wine is. The thicker the legs, the higher the alcohol and/or residual sugar (ie. sweetness).
Sniff: take a gentle inhalation through the nose. You can keep your mouth open too, which enhances the smelling process. Think about fruits, flowers and spices that you might be able to detect. Remember: there's no wrong answer here!
Smelling white wines: some white wines will have been aged in oak barrels, these can have a vanilla, or biscuity/nutty aroma. You might also smell elderflower or gooseberry, common in Sauvignon Blanc, or a 'flinty' smell, which is often used to describe Chablis (made of Chardonnay) in Burgundy. The viognier grape is sometimes said to have an apricot aroma, and Geürztraminer can smell of lychees!
Smelling red wines: in red wines, look for red fruits such as blackcurrants, plums, blackberries or even green pepper. If you pick up on a jammy aroma, this often indicates the grapes received a lot of sunshine, eg. in the south of France. Spices, chocolate, coffee or tobacco can also be aromas found in red wines. If wines have been aged, they can have a toasted sort of smell.

Step 3: Taste

As you slowly sip the wine, try to keep your senses alert. Let the wine pass over all parts of your tongue and mouth. (You could also attempt to take in a little air through the mouth to aid the development of the flavours, but we strongly advise practising this at home first, in case of embarrassing dribbles!)

'Mouthfeel' describes how the wine feels in your mouth. Is it very strong ("full bodied"), or more watery ("light")?
How sweet is the wine, how "jammy" are those fruits, or is it more "lean" and almost "grassy"?
Do you get a strong alcohol feel, or not so much?
How are the tannins? (Like when you drink strong black tea!) Do they seem "rich and ripe", or more "green and young"?
How much acidity is there? Does the wine feel mature, rich and smooth, or more fresh and zingy? You can also describe wine as being "well balanced" if the acidity is present but not excessive.
Now, either spit the wine into the spittoon (the host will often do this, but you are not expected to!) or swallow your mouthful. How long can you taste the wine afterwards, does it have a "long finish"?

A cyclist raising a glass of wine during a wine tasting

Book your cycle tour in France's wine regions

Experiencing a wine tasting in France is often a highlight for our riders, as they get to taste some wonderful wines and discover the processes behind winemaking.

We are very happy to help advice which wine region cycle tour would suit you and your group, based upon your fitness level, your budget, your interests and of course, your wine preferences!

When you travel with an independent company, you know you will receive expert advice from beginning to end.

fch@frenchcyclingholidays.com
+44(0) 1923 894305 or +44(0)20 8357 8934