How to improve your tasting skills

With Justin Martindale MW
Wednesday Sep 4 2024 6:00 pm CEST

Summary:

This session focuses on techniques you can use to enhance your blind tasting skills. Justin will discuss some of the tips and tricks he employed to pass the Master of Wine; the most challenging wine tasting exam in the world. Justin will share some exercises that you can try at home to build your own tasting skills, as well as discussing the most effective ways of writing your tasting notes, and all the various techniques in assessing a wine’s quality and identifying its region of origin.
If you’re currently studying for wine exams, or if you just want to get the most out of the wines you enjoy, this session is one not to miss!

About the Speaker:

Justin Martindale is a Master of Wine based in Edinburgh, Scotland. After graduating with a music degree from Leeds University in 2005, Justin began his wine career with Majestic Wine in London in 2008. During his time with Majestic, Justin studied his WSET Level 3 which he passed with Distinction and was awarded the Cálem Port Award scholarship for excellence. After moving to Scotland in 2010 he embarked on the WSET Diploma which he achieved in 2012, winning the Derouet Jameson Award MW scholarship for outstanding achievement.
In 2013, Justin left Majestic to set up Lothian Wine School in Edinburgh, which grew to become Scotland’s foremost provider of wine education. During this time Justin began studying for the Master of Wine, which he achieved in 2022, winning both the Madame Bollinger Award for the best performance in the tasting exams, and the Quinta do Noval award for the best research paper.
Justin is the Membership & Community manager at Wine Scholar Guild.

Timestamp:

Introduction to the Webinar (00:00)
Justin Martindale welcomes participants and introduces the topic of blind tasting and practical tips for improving tasting skills.

Tasting Exam Comparisons (00:04)
Comparison of the Master of Wine (MW) and Master Sommelier (MS) tasting exams, highlighting their rigorous nature and requirements.

Session Structure Overview (00:06)
Justin outlines the session's focus areas: tasting notes, exercises, quality assessment, and miscellaneous tasting tips.

Writing Tasting Notes (00:07)
Introduction to writing effective tasting notes and alternative methods to traditional tasting grids.

Limitations of Tasting Grids (00:08)
Discussion on the drawbacks of tasting grids and their impact on subjective wine tasting experiences.

The Cross System for Tasting (00:14)
Introduction of a new method, the Cross System, for organizing tasting notes more effectively and intuitively.

Introduction to Tasting Notes (00:18)
Discussion on adapting tasting methods and personalizing tasting notes for a more nuanced approach.

Blind vs. Open Tasting (00:20)
Comparison of blind tasting and open tasting, emphasizing the benefits of open tasting for active learning.

Practical Tasting Exercises (00:22)
Suggestions for tasting exercises, focusing on small flights and assessing expectations against actual wine characteristics.

Identifying Weak Spots (00:25)
Encouragement to recognize personal weaknesses in wine tasting and make a list to improve skills.

Tasting Laterals (00:26)
Explanation of lateral tasting with similar wines to identify key differences and enhance tasting skills.

Tasting in Black Glasses (00:30)
Experience of tasting wines without visual cues to heighten sensory focus and challenge assumptions.

Understanding Personal Taste (00:32)
Exercise using various substances to explore personal taste perceptions and improve wine tasting accuracy.

Assessing Wine Quality (00:34)
Introduction to the BLIC system for evaluating wine quality beyond personal preference and subjective impressions.

Understanding Sense of Place (00:37)
Discussion on how a wine's origin and craftsmanship can indicate its quality and memorability.

Memorable Wines (00:38)
Exploration of how some wines leave lasting impressions while others are easily forgotten.

Developing Your Tasting Language (00:39)
Encouragement to create personal vocabulary for describing wines, enhancing tasting experiences.

Blind Tasting Techniques (00:40)
Strategies for identifying wines in blind tastings, including climate and regional characteristics.

Old World vs. New World Wines (00:41)
Discussion on the differences and blurred lines between old world and new world wines.

Assessing Wine Quality (00:42)
Tips on determining wine quality without knowing the grape variety.

Wine Categorisation (00:43)
Advice on categorising wines based on characteristics like aroma and winemaking techniques.

First Taste Importance (00:44)
Emphasis on not wasting the first taste to maintain palate accuracy during tastings.

Proactive Tasting Approach (00:44)
Encouragement to taste wines with intention rather than relying on memory of previous sips.

Avoiding Grid System Pitfalls (00:45)
Warning against getting lost in grid systems and forgetting to assess the wine's overall quality.

Practicing with a Cold (00:46)
Suggestion to practice tasting while unwell to prepare for exam conditions.

Identifying Grape Varieties (00:46)
Discussion on the necessity of identifying grape varieties in professional settings.

Enjoying Wine Tasting (00:47)
Reminder that wine tasting should be fun and enjoyable, not overly stressful.

Tasting with Friends (00:48)
Advice on balancing wine tasting techniques with the enjoyment of drinking wine socially.

Understanding Sense of Place (00:49)
Clarification on what constitutes a wine's sense of place beyond geographical factors.

Comparing Varieties Across Regions (00:50)
Value of comparing grape varieties from different regions for better tasting knowledge.

Long-Term Memory Techniques (00:51)
Discussion on how experience and regular tasting contribute to long-term wine knowledge.

Resetting Your Palate (00:52)
Tip on neutralising your palate between tastings for better accuracy.

Impact of Climate Change (00:53)
Overview of how climate change is affecting wine styles and characteristics.

Bulk Wines in Exams (00:55)
Insight into the presence of mass-produced wines in wine examinations and the confidence needed to assess them.

Quality Assessments in Wine (00:56)
Discussion on how wine professionals struggle with quality assessments due to skewed perceptions from high-end wines.

Keeping Your Palate in Shape (00:56)
Tips on maintaining palate sensitivity after tasting wines with high acid or tannins.

Confidence in First Impressions (00:57)
Advice on trusting initial perceptions of wine to avoid confusion from repeated tastings.

Focus on Classic Wines (00:58)
Emphasis on learning classic wine styles as foundational knowledge before exploring broader varieties.



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