Level Up with Vertical and Horizontal Tastings

You can learn a lot about wine from vertical and horizontal tastings
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If you want to take wine tasting to the next level, look no further than vertical and horizontal tastings, which provide unique insights into the wines being presented.

A vertical tasting explores the same wine from different years, usually from the same producer. Even when a wine is made by the same vintner and from the same vineyard every year, its profile can change because of variations in weather and other factors. “In our wine education seminars, we show how different vintages of the same wine can be vastly different,” says Shannon Casey, co-owner of Michigan by the Bottle Tasting Room, which has locations in Auburn Hills, Royal Oak, and Shelby Township. “Not only does this demonstrate vintage variation, highlighting different growing conditions and winemaking variations, but also the aging potential of some wines.”

Alternatively, horizontal tastings explore multiple wines from the same vintage but different wineries or vineyards. Like vertical tastings, they center on one specific grape. “These types of tastings are particularly interesting when a winery chooses to bottle different vineyards separately,” Casey says. “You can really see the difference in terroir that each vineyard site showcases.”

Both tastings have their benefits. “We like to do horizontal tastings to compare the same wine across vineyards to see how the different winemaking styles and terroir affect the wines,” Casey says. “We like to do vertical tastings when there is a distinct difference in the vintages. Many mass-produced commercial wines are produced to take out vintage variations. Many artisanal winemakers, which we have plenty of in Michigan, let the wines make themselves. Minimal manipulation in the cellar often leads to wines having significant vintage variation.”

Tips for First-Time Tasters

New to wine tasting? Here are some helpful guidelines to make the most of the experience.

Ask questions!

“First-time wine tasters should ask lots of questions and try lots of wines,” says Shannon Casey, co-owner of Michigan by the Bottle Tasting Room in metro Detroit. “If they can put into words what they like or dislike, an experienced wine seller can help them explore other wines that they otherwise wouldn’t have tried.”

Keep an open mind.

“We often hear people say they don’t like red wines, when in fact they may not like the high tannins of a Cabernet Sauvignon,” Casey says. “Often, these guests realize they do like red wines with a lower tannin. Tasters need to find a tasting room, wine bar, or wine merchant that takes the time to educate their guests.”

Follow the five S’s.

The five S’s — see, swirl, smell, sip, and savor — provide a helpful evaluative structure to wine tasting, and Casey uses it religiously. “When evaluating a wine, it can quickly help us identify any flaws,” he says. “When we are just sitting down for a leisurely glass of wine, it enhances the experience because it makes us slow down and appreciate every glass.”

Go white to red and dry to sweet.

“Your palate can easily be overpowered by the big, bold red wines, so we always want to work our way up to those wines,” Casey says. “This gives the lighter wines a chance to be appreciated.”

A version of this article originally appeared in the 2024 Michigan Wine Country magazine.

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