Discover the Art of Wine Tasting
Understanding Wine
An Introductory Journey into Wine Culture and Tasting
Unique Experiences
Join our exclusive events and immerse yourself in Tuscan food and wine culture.
🎯 Course Objectives
The course is designed for enthusiasts and beginners, with the goal of:
✅ Learning the basics of wine tasting: visual, olfactory, and gustatory analysis.
✅ Understanding the different types of wine and their characteristics.
✅ Discovering the principles of food and wine pairing.
✅ Gaining insight into the winemaking process, from vineyard to bottle.
✅ Exploring the Tuscan and Italian wine heritage.
✅ Building confidence in wine selection and service.
Wine Tasting Courses
A course designed for those who wish to approach the world of wine with awareness. Through four sessions, you will learn to recognize the main visual, olfactory, and taste characteristics of wine, distinguishing quality from flaws. You will discover the role of terroir, explore different winemaking techniques, and understand the fundamentals of food and wine pairing.
Learn to recognize the nuances of wine with our expert Sommeliers, Massimo Campolongo and Sandra Agostini.
The Theory of Wine
It is acquired through courses, seminars, readings, and in-depth study.
The Practice of Wine
It is refined through direct experience, with guided tastings and mindful wine appreciation.
Currently Open Courses
The Next Courses Are Scheduled from November
Upcoming Tastings
Follow us to join the next tastings
🍇 Lesson 1
– Introduction to Wine Tasting
- Tasting Techniques
- Introduction to the Main Grape Varieties
- Tasting of 3 Wines
🍷 Lesson 2
– The Main Types of Wine
- Differences between white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines
- Winemaking and Aging
- Tasting of 3 Representative Wines
🍽 Lesson 3
– L’Abbinamento Cibo-Vino
- Basic Rules and Common Mistakes
- Food and Wine Pairing Simulation
- Tasting of 3 Wines with Food Pairing
🏛 Lesson 4
– The Tuscan Territory and Course Conclusion
- Typical Tuscan and Italian Wines
- Importance of Terroir and Designations (Appellations)
- Tasting of Selected Wines
- Certificate Presentation
In these sessions, we will explore:
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- Which wines can age and how to store them properly to preserve their quality and evolution over time.
- How to read the label and interpret the information on the cork and bottle to understand the identity of the wine.
- The value of tasting: the pleasure of sensory analysis, togetherness, and conviviality, balancing personal impressions with fundamental guidelines.
- Wine service: from opening the bottle to choosing the right glass, as well as the ideal temperature and the proper pouring procedure.
- How to recognize flaws and quality: cork taint, possible wine faults, and its distinctive characteristics.
- Food and wine pairing: the concept of balance between contrast and concordance to best enhance the flavors.
Three wines will be tasted at each session.
The Wine Processes
Vine Cultivation
Care of the vine and vineyard management until grape ripening.
Harvest
Harvesting the grapes at their optimal ripeness.
Destemming
Separation of the grape berries from the stems to prevent excessive green tannins.
Crushing
Breaking the grape berries to extract the must and start fermentation.
Fermentation
Transformation of sugars into alcohol thanks to yeasts, with development of aromas and structure.
Maturation
Wine evolution before refinement, in steel, concrete, or wood.
Aging and Refinement
Final stage of stabilization and development of the aromatic profile, in barrel or bottle.
Bottling
Sealing and stabilizing the wine for distribution and consumption.
Cellar Storage
Storage of wine in controlled environments to preserve its qualities.
Bottle Aging
Evolution of the wine in the bottle, enhancing its structure and complexity over time.
Types of Wine
The types of wine are closely linked to the grape variety, cultivation, terroir, and winemaking techniques. There are several classification criteria:
- By color → White, Rosé, Red.
- By sugar content → Dry, Demi-Sec, Sweet.
- By effervescence → Still, Semi-Sparkling, Sparkling.
- By degree of ripeness → Young, Late Harvest, Passito (Dessert Wine).
- By addition of distilled spirits → Fortified Wines, enriched to increase their alcohol content.
Wine Tasting
Tasting allows you to understand the organoleptic characteristics of wine through three fundamental phases:
1️⃣ Visual Examination → Evaluates color, clarity, and consistency.
2️⃣ Olfactory Examination → Analyzes the intensity and complexity of aromas.
3️⃣ Gustatory Examination → Identifies balance, structure, and persistence.
Sensory analysis helps to enhance the value of wine and to choose the best food pairing to bring out its flavors.
Wine and Food Pairing
The right pairing between wine and food creates a harmonious balance, where neither element overpowers the other. The goal is for the wine to enhance the dish and, at the same time, for the dish to highlight the wine, bringing out its aromas and structure. This balance is based on two fundamental principles:
- Contrast → The elements of wine and food balance each other (e.g., an acidic wine with a fatty dish).
- Concordance → Similar characteristics are enhanced (e.g., a sweet wine with a dessert).
Wine Service
To fully appreciate a wine, it is essential to serve it correctly, following some fundamental rules:
- Serving order → If multiple wines are served, a logical sequence is followed (whites before reds, young before aged, dry before sweet).
- Ideal temperature → Each type of wine should be served at the right temperature to enhance its characteristics.
- Appropriate glass → The shape of the glass influences the perception of aromas and the way the wine reaches the palate.
Key Features
Discover the unique experiences we offer to immerse yourself in the world of Tuscan wine and gastronomy.
Food and Wine Experiences
Join guided tastings and discover the secrets of the finest local wines.
Cooking Classes
Learn to prepare traditional Tuscan dishes with our expert chefs.
Exclusive Events
Join unique events that celebrate the culture and traditions of our region.
Communication and Promotion
We share stories and traditions through our communication channels.
DiVini Incontri is an association dedicated to promoting food and wine experiences in Tuscany. With passion and commitment, we strive to enhance the region’s rich culinary and wine heritage by offering events, courses, and tastings that celebrate both tradition and innovation. Our mission is to create authentic connections between people and the territory through experiences that highlight local flavors and stories.
Founded by a group of enthusiasts, DiVini Incontri stands out for its ability to unite culture and pleasure, offering a varied program ranging from cooking classes to guided tastings. Each event is designed to educate and entertain, promoting greater awareness of Tuscan excellence. Join us to discover the very best that Tuscany has to offer.
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