05/24/05 The art of spitting

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran, and today we are going to discuss the fine art of spitting when you are attending a wine tasting. Well let's just get right down to the nitty gritty of spitting out your wine rather than swallowing. It surprises some people when I am tasting wine and hovering over the spittoon while performing the swish and release method of wine tasting. Very often the looks are something that I wish I had a camera to record. There are times when I taste a lot of wine. It is important to me that I give each wine the same thoughtful evaluation that I gave the prior wine. If I were swallowing each taste, I would be unable to do that. It is important to understand that you have to exercise your palate in order to develop the ability to evaluate wine when swishing and spitting. Get a good book and walk yourself through the process evaluating those tastes. But for the art of spitting try this way  Take a good taste this is not a sip. It is enough wine to move around in your mouth with and register what is happening on your tongue and where it is occurring. Once you are satisfied that you have tasted the wine then lean forward over the spittoon and purse your lips together as though you were about to whistle and use just a slight bit of force to project thewine into the receptacle. Just enough force to keep from dribbling down your lip and over your chin and onto your shirt. But not enough force to make the contents of the spittoon splash back up at you. Trust me at first that will happen. Over time and with practice you will develop your own style. Oh yeah, you will most likely be the designated driver - because you spit. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining on today's Vine to Wine.