Blog | The Grape Grind

Blind Tasting: Tips for calibrating your palate!

Some of the biggest things I’ve learned in tasting for exams over the years!

6 Things You’ll Learn at the CMS Deductive Tasting Workshop

6 Things You’ll Learn at the CMS Deductive Tasting Workshop

May 29, 2018

This course is a huge advantage if you are going for your CMS Certification!

6 of the BEST Wine Books to Own

6 of the BEST Wine Books to Own

Feb 20, 2018

These have really helped me in my quest for wine knowledge!

Wandering the Vintage Ohio Wine Festival in Kirtland, Ohio

Wandering the Vintage Ohio Wine Festival in Kirtland, Ohio

Aug 13, 2017

We finally made it to one of the biggest tastings in Ohio! Here’s how it went.

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thegrapegrind

📚This month you’ll find me buried in the book

📚This month you’ll find me buried in the books. That and tasting a lot. I’ve barely had time for much else (outside of the kids and small projects lately, but it’s all good stuff.)⁣
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Every time I take a new exam I’m always humbled at how much I don’t know yet! ⁣
Wine is a never ending dive. ⁣
The more I learn, the bigger the world of wine gets… the less I know! It’s always a challenge.⁣
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All three mid level exams I’ve taken are pretty similar in the difficulty of their content, but kind of heavy in very different areas:⁣
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▪️WSET 3 is the WHY! 💡⁣
It is explanation heavy. They don’t want you to just recall info. You need to be able to explain everything about it. I’ve been outlining my regions and listing every feature in them (climate/mountains/rivers/soils) and how each feature impacts the wine/winemaking there! This type of note taking has been helpful for me and I’ll share them with you in June!⁣
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▪️ CMS Certified is very much the WHO! 🏰⁣
Producer heavy and steered in service, as well as who is historically known and how they influenced the industry …you need to know a lot of wines (and you also need to know the world of spirits and cocktails… and those brands!) ⁣
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▪️CSW (with The Society of Wine Educators) is the WHERE! 🗺⁣
The most map specific exam of the three. This one helped with learning and recalling all of the geographical features as well as all of the major cities! I outlined and studied mostly just maps for this one. It was also only multiple choice, unlike the other two which required explanations. ⁣
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I get a lot of inquiries about where to start or which avenue to take so I wanted to share my thoughts about each, which I’ll further clarify in June after my exam and hopefully a pass 🤞🏼it’s definitely a LOT! ⁣
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➡️Are you working on any of these exams? ⁣
➡️What would you add?⁣?
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✈️ Excited to turn off my brain a little this weekend and just fully enjoy my wine next week in Napa/Sonoma! ⁣Its been quite a month and I also haven’t been! Tell me all the good stuff 🙂
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#wineknowledge #wineexams #winestudent #wineeducation #winestudies #wset #cms #winetasting #blindtasting

I've posted a lot of red lately, so here are some

I've posted a lot of red lately, so here are some whites to even it out… a lot of them!⁣⁣⁣
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🥴 I'm getting back to tasting after a few weeks of not doing much of that. ⁣⁣⁣
I don't think my sense of smell is entirely back to what it used to be yet, but it's improving. This strand of Covid seemed generally ‘mild’ in our case, but it still took away some senses I absolutely need these next couple months. …We're getting there. ⁣⁣⁣
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I'll be sharing a lot of my thoughts on the WSET tasting format and my experience through the upcoming weeks! It’s a LOT but it’s a good ‘lot’. ⁣⁣⁣
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Here is a lineup of everything we had to taste for week one of WSET3 …and this is just for week one (there’s 5 more weeks of tasting) 😯! ⁣⁣⁣
I double checked them if testable for CMS also! 👍🏻⁣⁣⁣
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BORDEAUX⁣⁣⁣
✔️Sauternes/Barsac⁣⁣⁣
✔️Generic Bordeaux ⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Graves or Pessac Leognan⁣⁣⁣
BURGUNDY⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Village or 1er Chablis⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Village or 1er Cote D'or⁣⁣⁣
✔️Macon or Macon Villages⁣⁣⁣
ALSACE⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Riesling⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Gewurtztraminer⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Pinot Gris⁣⁣⁣
✔️SGN⁣⁣⁣
LOIRE⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Premium Dry Chenin⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Sancerre or Pouilly Fume⁣⁣⁣
✔️Muscadet/ Muscadet Dur Lie⁣⁣⁣
RHÔNE ⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Condrieu⁣⁣⁣
GERMANY⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Riesling Kabinett or Spatlese⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️VDP Riesling ⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Riesling Ausele or Beerenauslese⁣⁣⁣
AUSTRIA⁣⁣⁣
✔️✔️Gruner Veltliner⁣⁣⁣
HUNGARY⁣⁣⁣
✔️Tokaji Aszu⁣⁣⁣
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Tell me which of these stand out to you! ⁣⁣⁣
➡️Which are you most able to identify blind? ⁣⁣⁣
➡️What do you need to taste more of? ⁣⁣⁣
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I definitely need to taste more late harvest and sweet wines.⁣
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📦If you are looking to build a collection of blinds I will happily send you some classics to help you stock up for any future tasting exams. You can check out my bundle options via the new curated cases link in my bio! Stocking up little by little can help a lot in the long run. I have an entire rack solely for blinds. Once the exam is over I will pull my favorites to enjoy!😉⁣
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#tasting #blindtasting #wset #winelineups #whitewine #whiteblinds #frenchwine #winestudent #sommlife #wineexams #wineeducation #winebottles #winestyles #winetasting

🌍Earth Day FREEBIE!💥⁣ ⁣ The top three wi

🌍Earth Day FREEBIE!💥⁣
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The top three wine producing climates, where you find them, and how they can influence what you are tasting!⁣
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If you typically get my monthly emails you'll receive this over the weekend 🙂 (If not you can subscribe in my bio)⁣
This was part of a blind tasting from last night and so fun and relevant to what I'm studying now involving viticulture!⁣
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There are three main climate types where winegrowing is involved. These include:⁣
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🍂 Continental ⁣
-areas with little to no ocean influence (very inland)⁣
-hot summers, cold winters (ice and snow) and a very drastic diurnal switch (difference in daytime and nighttime temp) ⁣
-short growing season and wide vintage variation⁣
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🌊 Maritime⁣
-areas directly influenced by bodies of water ⁣
-cooler summers, mild winters, steady precipitation and elevated humidity and fog⁣
-long growing season⁣
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🌴 Mediterranean⁣
-areas located mostly near the Mediterranean basin⁣
-hot dry summers and cool wet winters, lots of sunshine, and very consistent temperatures⁣
-long growing season ⁣
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Full guide includes the regions included with these climates and what wine styles will typically showcase in these areas!⁣
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🍷The three reds we tasted through included a Bordeaux blend, a California Cabernet, and a Beaujolais Villages. ⁣
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➡️What climates do you think these wines fell into?⁣
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🌤I hope you are getting out and about this weekend to enjoy our beautiful earth. I'm almost over Covid and have about 75% of my taste back. I’ll be saving the wine for when I can fully taste it, but we’ll definitely be enjoying the sunshine!⁣
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#earthday #earthdaywine #winestyles #wineclimates #environment #wineenvironments #grapegrowing #redwine #blindtasting #winetasting #winemaking #winelineup #wineguide #wineeducation

🌍Old world vs New world🌎⁣ ⁣ 💭Still th

🌍Old world vs New world🌎⁣
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💭Still think it's relevant in blind tasting deduction?⁣
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These stylistic differences are harder to pinpoint vs ten years ago (due to climate change, growing conditions, and consumer preferences) but I certainly think some of the generalizations still hold true and wines will always show some sense of place!⁣
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🌍OLD WORLD WINES are from Europe (France, Italy, Spain, etc.) and the Middle East. These are typically lighter in body, lower in alcohol, and higher in acid. They often show more neutral oak and emphasize fresh earthy notes vs fruit. ⁣
🌎NEW WORLD WINES are from everywhere BUT Europe (America, Australia, New Zealand, etc.). These are generally fuller bodied, with higher alcohol and lower acidity. They often show more new oak and emphasized fruit vs earth. ⁣
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There are always 'exceptions to the rules' with wine but we had two Malbec's last night for Tasting Group and it was good to talk about these side by side:⁣
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🍷The New World Malbec - @zuccardivalledeuco⁣
This specific bottle in the Zuccardi collection explores the unique characteristics of individual micro regions of the Uco Valley! It's powerful and aromatic, but made in a much more restrained and less concentrated style. Same benchmarks remain: liquored/plump fruit, florals, chocolate/coffee, medium plus body, plush tannin, and that signature purple rim! (Swipe for it!)⁣
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🍷The Old World Malbec - Clos La Coutale⁣
A Kermit Lynch import and solid benchmark bottle. One of the most widely distributed for the region. Lighter in color and a little more green and fresh in flavor. Medium bodied with red and black fruit, tobacco, dirt, cocoa and a little potpourri! ⁣
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➡️Have you had either of these?⁣
➡️Have you done an Old World/New World side by side lately for any other variety?⁣
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You can check out the link in my bio for more side by side inspiration! And of course, join in next month if you're able! 🤓⁣
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#blindtasting #tastinggroup #malbec #oldworldwines #newworldwines #oldworldvsnewworld #bigwines #redwine #winelineups #frenchwine #argentinamalbec

🍷Tasting is the absolute best way to learn abou

🍷Tasting is the absolute best way to learn about wine. ⁣
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Experience is everything.⁣
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You could read every book on the planet but without tasting, it wouldn’t give you the same understanding of all of the elements involved!
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💥I just switched over tasting grids for the next couple of months. I’ve been using the CMS format for 10 years and despite all of the same components included, there are some vocabulary differences between them I have to get used to.⁣
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Example: I can no longer use the word “straw” to identify a white wine at its base yellow color - I have to use the word “lemon” …odd because “lemon” is borderline highlighter yellow to me and white wines are rarely that color 🍋 okay, there is lemon-green (but I still miss “straw”) sad face. ⁣
Also, can’t use the words “brambly”, “rustic”, or even “sharp”. Too vague and not on the lexicon!⁣
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Another thing WSET3 doesn’t have you do, is take a guess at variety or region …which I think is immensely helpful to help you understand benchmarks for varieties and the regions it could be from/how that climate might impact acid and ripeness of fruit! ⁣
HOWEVER, this does help keep you from ‘jumping to conclusions’ quickly and just focus on what your tasting (not the variety you immediately think it is)⁣.
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✍🏻overall the WSET process makes you think critically about what you are tasting in written format. I think it’s going to continue to help me become more well rounded here! ⁣
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➡️Has anyone done both CMS and WSET Certification tasting grids?⁣
➡️If so, how did you feel about both?!⁣
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#blindtasting #winetasting #winecerts #blinds #tastinggrids #wineexams #winestudent #winestudy #tasting #whitewine #redwine #winedescriptors #tastingnotes

🍴Continuing the series…⁣ ⁣ CLASSIC + CRAF

🍴Continuing the series…⁣
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CLASSIC + CRAFTY food and wine pairings! I'm giving you one food category and multiple wines that pair …and why!⁣
Next up… FRUIT! ⁣
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🍋🍎🍑🍍🍒🫐⁣
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We like to relate tasting notes to fruit, but fruit doesn't actually pair with wine very well.⁣
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Why?⁣
Fruit is sweet and whenever food is sweeter than the wine, the wine turns sour, bitter, and astringent. ⁣
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It's very hard to go outside the 'classics' here, but if you follow some structural advice, there's some fun to be had!⁣
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💥CLASSIC (the wines everyone "and their Somm" tells you to try with these foods):⁣
▪️a Moscato or sweeter Riesling ⁣
▪️Rich late harvest whites like Semillon (Sauternes) or Furmint (Tokaji)⁣
▪️Port⁣
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💭Why?⁣
These are SAFE. Most are sweeter than the fruit or just fruity themselves which compliments (obviously)⁣
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(I found a lot of articles that say Rosé pairs well …but I feel as if this is a painted picture/illusion, as most I've paired are too dry and more mineral driven …and just make the fruit taste bitter)⁣
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💥CRAFTY (the wines that conventional wisdom might not lead you to…but sometimes work!):⁣
▪️a fruity Chenin Blanc or Gewurztraminer ⁣
▪️Vin Santo and Madeira …great acid and just enough sweetness⁣
▪️A juicy Gamay or a Grenache …one that is more dominant in acid than alcohol (with berries)⁣
▪️Lambrusco or Brachetto d'Aqui …we often forget these bright and slightly sweet red sparklers (they're just asking for a fruit pairing!)⁣
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💭Why?⁣
We're looking for wines that are youthful, fruity, and unoaked and bonus points for some residual sugar⁣
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Of course, the TYPE of fruit and the PREPARATION can dramatically change which wines work!⁣
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➡️Anything else you’ve tasted with fruit lately that blew you away?⁣
➡️Let me know any other pairings you’d like me to hit on in the next few months!⁣
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#foodandwine #foodandwinepairings #classicpairings #whitewinepairings #fruitpairings #fruitwines #berriesandwine #sweetwines #fruitwinepairing #dessertwines #fruitywines #winestotry #pairingideas #wineinfo #wineeducation #sommelier

Some weekend highlights…⁣
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▪️My sweet ‘wild child(ren)’ and a glass of Margaret River Aussie Chardonnay ⁣
▪️An amazing vertical lineup of Virginia wines @pearmundcellars (Cab Franc and Petit Verdot) with a fantastic group of people! 🍷⁣
▪️First week of WSET3 down (SO much reading) 📚 ⁣
▪️Something new and exciting launched! 📦 Spring Bundles, Study Bundles + Curated Cases …go check it out via the link in my bio⁣
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Life is messy …but right now, progress, good wine, and good people have been constant! Grateful for that 🖤⁣
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➡️Tell me a highlight of your weekend! Did you taste or do anything new/exciting?⁣
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#winetasting #winelineup #whitewine #redwine #wsetstudent #wsetstudy #wineeducation #winemom #sommlife #wineinfo #winebundles #virginiawine #vawine #winelife

✔️Checked off another city and another Champag

✔️Checked off another city and another Champagne bottle over the weekend!⁣
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My main wine girl @amanda_moss stole me away to Buffalo, NY and per usual, upon arrival anywhere, a bottle of bubbles was opened! 🥂⁣
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🍾@champagnedrappier is a high quality Negociant (NM) producer in the Aube (the most southern area of Champagne). ⁣
🍇Known for its high percentage of Pinot Noir. (The Carte d'Or is almost a Blanc de Noir, but not quite!) In fact, this house brought Pinot Noir to the Aube in the early 1900's. This seemed 'crazy' at the time, but now Pinot Noir is the most planted in the Aube.
More than half comes from their estate vineyard and the rest is contracted! ⁣
🍒🌸They also pride themselves in low sulfur and cold fermentations (which keeps lots of fruity/floral aromas and flavor). ⁣The wine itself is still full in body and RIPE in stone fruit, white florals, and hazelnut. Delicious.⁣⁣
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➡️ Have you tasted a bottle of Drappier?⁣
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#champagne #frenchwine #sparklingwine #bubbles #champagneproducers #champagneinfo #champagnenotes #winenotes #bighousechampagne #aube #pinotmeunier

💭What is your favorite area for Chenin?⁣⁣
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I love a good Vouvray, but I also appreciate a delicious South African Chenin like @raatsfamilywines which I opened last week! ⁣
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💻Grateful to @elevagewinecoaching for their webinars that are extremely insightful for regional topics as well as blind tasting. If you haven't checked out Noelle and Amber's platform yet it would be worth your while.⁣⁣
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Last week I was able to tap into a side by side and learn some blind tasting take aways with Chenin Blanc.⁣⁣
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Some things I did not know about this lovely "chameleon variety":⁣⁣
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💥it maintains high acid even in very warm climates⁣⁣
🍏it has high levels of 'malic acid' which is the reason you often get 'apple' notes ⁣⁣
🧃tasting a CIDER alongside a chenin is helpful as they can taste similar - I always think pick up applesauce with Chenin ⁣⁣
🧈it typically does not see full MLF (only partial)⁣⁣
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➡️Do you have a go-to descriptor for Chenin?⁣⁣
What grapes do you often confuse for this variety?⁣⁣
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#cheninblanc #winetasting #sidebyside #vouvray #southafricanwine #chenin #winevarieties #blindtasting #blindwines #tastingnotes #wineflights #winestudent #wineinfo

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