It is not just a chate wine tasting, as one samples drinks but rather, it is a rich cultural journey that makes a visitor familiar with the culture and art of winemaking. Estate wine tasting is a learning experience, hospitality and sensory experience that enables the visitors to appreciate fine wines.
The program normally starts with a tour of the history of the estate. Several chatelet wineries have been run by their families over the years and their narrations do show commitment, the legacy, and the pride of their workmanship. Before the tasting start, the guests might be shown around the vineyards and in the old cellars.
When the tasting is conducted in a formal manner, wines are served in a particular order to bring out their individual features. Light and delicate wines have to be served at the beginning and fuller bodied ones at the end. A glass filled with wine will be poured to the glass that is aimed to promote the aroma and taste of the wine.
The appreciation of wine uses all the senses. The initial one is the observation of the color and clearness of the wine. Stirring of the glass brings out the aromas which contain some faint aromas like fruit, spice, oak or floral aromas. Lastly, tasting enables the visitors to be able to taste the harmony between acidity, sweetness, tannins, and body that form the structure of the wine.
Estate tastings usually have food pairings that match the wines being served. The interaction of flavors and various wines is emphasized through artisan cheeses, fresh breads and seasonal delicacies. The combinations of these wines make the tasting process more exciting and the way that wine can add pleasure to gastronomic pleasure.