What is a horizontal tasting and a vertical tasting. Procedure and differences.

What is a horizontal tasting and a vertical tasting. Procedure and differences. Many times we hear about a vertical tasting, but we really know what it is about.
The tastings bring us many things besides the characteristics of a wine and its origins.
Also give us characteristics of the soil where they were made, or the effects of the climate where they have been grown.
The most common tastings are vertical and horizontal. Let’s see what it is and what differences exist between a vertical tasting and a horizontal tasting

 

 

 

What is a horizontal tasting and a vertical tasting. Procedure and differences.

Horizontal Tasting

They are usually more common than vertical tastings.
It basically consists in carrying out a study of wines with the same vintage, and different wineries, which have been cultivated in the same area or with the same variety of grapes.
With this, we can differentiate the different methods of production, and the impact of different types of soil and climate.
Therefore we can say that the horizontal tasting is based on:
– Wine of the same vintage
– From the same area
– Same variety of grape

Vertical Tasting

On the contrary, the horizontal tasting, we analyze a particular wine from different vintages.
This type of tasting aims to analyze the evolution of wines over time, their evolution in the bottle, and above all to differentiate the quality of the vintages.
We can also analyze the different elaboration methods if they have been modified from one year to the next.
The purpose of this tasting is to know certain technical details of its preparation, above its taste, smell or color.
These tastings allow us to know in greater depth the history of a winery or a wine in particular.
Tastings are usually organized by the winery itself and sometimes by the Regulatory Board itself.
Are usually inviting sommeliers, and wine connoisseurs, to obtain professional information, in order to produce more balanced wines.

Characteristics of a Vertical tasting

Typically, this type of tasting is done on special wines or high quality.
Its main characteristic is to observe the evolution that the wine has had.
Another characteristic is to see the capacity of conservation.
They are usually technical and very rigorous tastings.

The Traditional Tasting

It is the one that makes the vast majority of the public, and whose goal is to discover the secrets of wine.
For this, the three basic aspects of the wines are analyzed:
– View: color
– Nose: aroma, and smell
– Mouth: gustative aspects.
The public can get an idea of ​​the type of wine they are tasting.
This type of tasting is also interesting for wineries, to confront if their elaboration ideas have acceptance or on the contrary they must rectify their process.

Order of the Tasting

The tastings should be made following an order based on the type of wine and its structure.
Depending on the type of wine
Considering this classification, the logical order would be:
– Sparkling
– Young whites
– Whites with aging or wood
– Pink
– Young reds
– Red Aging
– Reserve Red
– Sweet wines.
Depending on the structure
The first to be tasted will be those with the least structure
Later the wines with greater structure will be tasted.

Conclusions and comments

We can summarize that the fundamental differences between these tastings are:
Horizontal Tasting: different wines of the same vintage and the same denomination of origin.
Vertical Tasting: wines from the same winery, or denomination of origin, but different vintages.
We invite you to tell us the tastings in which you have participated and your impressions once you know something else about them.