Wine Education and Training in Australia

There are many wine schools that offer wine tasting classes to the public. These classes help a person hone his or her wine tasting abilities in a controlled setting.
Wine tasting is the examination and evaluation of wine through the senses. Wine tasting is taught at wine schools to develop the skills and appreciation of people in wine. Wine education teaches formal terminologies and an analytical process which are used to describe the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of wine.

When wine tasting, the taster will not have the liberty to see the label or bottle shape of the wine to ensure impartial judgment. It may also involve serving the wine from a black wine glass to mask the color of the wine.
A vertical tasting is a tasting event that tests different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery and emphasizes differences between various vintages. Meanwhile, a horizontal tasting involves testing wines from the same vintage but from different wineries. This would help emphasize differences in winery styles. After tasting the wines, the tester would then write a testimony about the aroma, taste, acidity, structure, texture, and balance of the wine.

Wines are then given scores according to this set system. This may either be explicitly weighing different aspects or by global judgment. It is common for wines to be scored out of 20 in Australia. However, critics tend to have their own preferred system of grading.

The Wine Society is one of the first groups established that represents the interests of wine lovers throughout Australia. It currently has over 55,000 members across the country and strives to promote wine appreciation, knowledge and excellence in the wine industry. The nonprofit club has been promoting wine since 1946.

The Wine Industry Suppliers Australia Inc. is the national body that represents the Australian wine industry supply sector and works with the broader industry to bring about the benefits for all its members through seminars and workshops.

Tips on wine tasting

• Look at the wine by tilting the glass and look at it against a white background. The color of the wine will vary according to what wine it is and its age.
• Swirl the wine vigorously in the glass and smell the aroma of the wine. Consider the intensity and the appeal of the wine as well.
• Touch the wine through your tongue and determine if it is soft or brisk, or flat and flabby. The ideal touch is a mellow softness much like a velvety feeling in your mouth.
• Take a small sip of the wine and swirl it around lightly in your mouth then keep it there for a brief period. Determine if the taste is the same as the aroma of the wine. It is recommended to experience the aftertaste of the wine so you will have something to remember it by. But if you are going to taste several wines, you might want to spit it out instead.