Wine Tasting Demystified with a Professional Sommelier: The Atlassian Team Tasting!

Conquering technical puzzles and supporting a global customer base requires a top-notch team. But even the best heroes deserve a break! This virtual wine tasting is the perfect way to unwind, connect with colleagues, and explore the world of wine – all from the comfort of your own screen.
Altassian Online Team Tasing

Welcome to the Atlassian Cloud Enterprise Support Team wine tasting on Airbnb Online Experiences.

No matter if you’re a seasoned connoisseur or a curious beginner, this guided session promises to be a delightful adventure. We’ll focus on the exciting process of wine tasting itself, transforming your next break into a fun and educational team-building experience. Join your colleagues for a delightful virtual wine night with the Atlassian Cloud Enterprise Support team. Don’t forget to bring your own bottle for the ultimate experience.

Tab here to Join Zoom Meeting  Wed, Apr 24 · 11:00 PM – 12:15 AM (EEST)

(BYOB) Bring Your Own Bottle

Bring your favorite bottle of wine to share with other attendees, whether it's a cherished vintage or a recent find. This is a BYOB session, so come prepared with your preferred choice. During our virtual session, we'll focus on the wine tasting process to fully unleash the flavor profile of your selected wine. Check out this helpful guide to help you choose the perfect wine to bring to our gathering.
Virtual Tasting

Event Features

A Sip of Knowledge: The Art of Tasting

We will talk about:

  • Visual Cues: How the color and clarity of the wine can offer clues about its characteristics (e.g., a deep ruby red color might indicate a full-bodied red wine, while a pale straw color suggests a light-bodied white wine).
  • The Swirl: Why swirling your glass amplifies the aroma and unlocks the wine’s bouquet. As you swirl the wine, observe how it coats the inside of the glass. This “wine curtain” can reveal clues about the wine’s viscosity (thickness).
  • The Sniff: Unveiling the delightful world of wine aromas – fruity (think berries, citrus, stone fruits), floral (violet, rose), spicy (pepper, cloves), and more! Take your time and see what scents you can identify.
  • The Sip: Savoring the taste – identifying primary flavors (the initial taste impression on your tongue), body weight (how heavy or light the wine feels in your mouth), and finish (the lingering taste sensations after you swallow). Swallowing isn’t mandatory during a tasting! You can also try swishing the wine around your mouth to fully coat your palate.

To make the most of this experience, here are a few tips:

  • Serving Temperature: Please prepare all wines at fridge temperature –Starting at low temperatures allows the wine to gradually release the aromatic reactions as temperature naturally alters.
  • Set the Scene: Find a quiet, well-lit spot for your virtual vineyard adventure.
  • Glassware: use your preferred glass, the ones that you feel comfortable drinking wine in. Ideally I‘d like you to have a different glass for each wine or at least two glasses. So you can perform a comparative tasting.
  • Palate Prep: Have some water and crackers on hand to cleanse your palate between wines.
  • Curiosity is Key! Just like in data science, come prepared to ask questions, experiment with different flavors, and form your own conclusions.

Feel free to bring a red and white wine that sparks your curiosity! Choose your wines and if you have a moment to spare, send me the name so I can add them to the wine list.

  • Please have the wine served when we start and feel free to refill as to your liking. 

Embrace the Experiment: Be open to trying new things and explore various flavor profiles. Think of it as an A/B test for your taste buds! Don’t be afraid to pair your chosen wines with different finger foods to see how the flavors interact.

Data Sharing is Caring: Don’t be shy! Share your observations and insights with your team. Collaboration is key to both successful wine tasting and data analysis. Discuss not just the wine itself, but how the food pairings influence the overall experience.

Take Notes: Use the tasting sheet or your own method to record your impressions. This will help you remember the wines you enjoyed. Include notes on what you paired with each wine and how the flavors complemented each other.

Relax and Have Fun! This is a chance to bond with your team outside the world of spreadsheets and algorithms. Let’s raise a glass and unwind together! Feel free to get creative with your food pairings and share your culinary discoveries with the team.

Check out the Q & A tab to find answers to questions discussed during the sessions.

Q:- What is Wine?

The basic definition of wine according to the International Code of Oenological Practices. 

I.3.1 Basic definition:

 Wine is the beverage resulting exclusively from the partial or complete alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, whether crushed or not, or of grape must. Its actual alcohol content shall not be less than 8.5% vol.

According to the International Code of Oenological Practices, wine is the alcoholic beverage made exclusively from the fermentation of fresh grapes or grape must. It must contain at least 8.5% alcohol by volume. This definition highlights the importance of quality ingredients and craftsmanship in winemaking. In essence, wine is not just a beverage but a reflection of the land, climate, and culture from which it originates. Enjoy responsibly and savor the flavors of the world’s diverse array of wines.

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Q:- What is an Appellation?

A:- In short it’s a combination of the Region,  Geographical Indication and Designation of production of a wine. A well known appellation is Champagne in France while the word’s oldest wine with a designated origin, still in production, is Commandaria wine from Cyprus

A wine’s origin is a key part of its identity, as it implies something about its style and likely quality. Many thousands of official placenames are used as wine names on the world’s wine labels. Some of these indicate only the wine’s origin, while others combine origin, style and quality all into one.

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Q:- What do the tail-terms ‘Classico’ in Italian wine and ‘Village’ in French wine mean?

A:- These terms refer to a smaller designated area within another appellation (e.g. Chianti Classico DOCG / Cote du Rhone Village AOC). Wines classified as ‘Classico’ / ‘Village’ must meet higher standards than those of the generic appellation title. They are from vineyards in areas that show potential to produce distinctive wines of good quality.

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Q:- What does Reserva mean?

A:- While outside of Italy the word “reserve” can mean many different things depending on where the wine is made. Italian wine law stipulates that Riserva wines are aged for a longer period of time than wines that are not labeled riserva. Riserva wines also tend to use higher quality grapes.

Some common standards for some of Italy’s most popular Riserva wines:
Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva: Aged for at least 4 years
Barbaresco Riserva: Aged for at least 4 years
Barolo Riserva: Aged for at least 5 years
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva: Aged for at least 5 years
Chianti Classico Riserva: Aged for at least 27 months
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Aged for at least 3 years

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Q:- What’s an easy way to learn some basics about wine tasting?

A:- WineMasters Class is a complete wine course for all sort of wine scholars, professionals and food & wine enthusiasts.

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Customize your Wine Tasting Experience

Wine Tasting is a very personal experience and you can do as you please especially in the privacy of a zoom meeting!  however I’d suggest you try and give your wine selection a structure and a theme. Comparative tasting is the way I learn about wine. Observing two wines at the same time focusing on what is different and where applied what is common between them.

Terroir, pronounced “tehr-wahr”, is a French term that expresses the combination of soil, weather conditions and style of winegrowing and winemaking. These three elements bring a specific identity and a sense of place to the wine. A terroir can be spread as a region or be as specific as a small part of an estate.

I recommend choosing  wines from the same origin if you want to focus on what a region has to offer. Keep things simple and equal by picking from the same Country > region > county > village > winery. 

If you enjoy a particular grape variety and would like to enhance your understanding of it, I suggest trying a diverse selection of single-variety wines. Consider exploring the differences between East Coast and West Coast wines, or comparing New World wines to Old World wines for a more comprehensive tasting experience.

By trying a variety of wines made from the same grape, you can deepen your knowledge of the unique characteristics and flavors of that grape variety. You may be surprised by the nuances that emerge in wines produced from the same grape, but from different regions or styles.

For example, if you are a fan of Chardonnay, try comparing a crisp, unoaked Chardonnay from a cooler climate with a rich and buttery style Chardonnay from a warmer region. Or, if you prefer Pinot Noir, try exploring the differences between a delicate, earthy Pinot Noir from France’s Burgundy region versus a bold, fruit-forward Pinot Noir from California’s Sonoma Coast.

No matter what grape variety you prefer, seeking out diverse single-variety wines can provide a rewarding and educational experience for any wine enthusiast.

You may want to get a bit deeper into your glass and compare different wine styles. For example, you can explore the differences between Oak-aged and Young wines, or taste the contrast between Dry and Semi-Dry typicity. By taking the time to savor and compare different wine styles, you can refine your palate and develop a deeper appreciation for the nuances of each bottle.

Use the search box to find wines near your location on WineSearcher.com

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