Spanish Wine Tasting? Say THIS! (Like a Pro!)

Decoding Spanish Wine Tasting: Speak Like You Know Your Rioja!

So, you’re heading to Spain, or maybe you’re at a local tasting featuring Spanish wines? Want to impress with more than just "delicious"? This guide will arm you with the essential phrases so you can confidently say you are trying a lot of wines in Spanish and understand what the experts are saying. We’ll break down the key vocabulary and build phrases step-by-step. Get ready to uncork your inner sommelier!

Preparing for Your Spanish Wine Adventure

Before diving into the phrases, let’s quickly cover some basics that will enrich your experience:

• Know Your Regions: Spain boasts diverse wine regions, each with its own character. Familiarize yourself with the big names like Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Albariño.
• Understand Grape Varieties: Knowing that Tempranillo is a major red grape in Spain (especially in Rioja and Ribera del Duero) gives context to the wines you’re tasting.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask: Wineries and tasting rooms are usually very welcoming. Don’t hesitate to ask questions – it shows genuine interest.

Essential Phrases to "Say You Are Trying A Lot of Wines in Spanish"

Okay, let’s get to the heart of it! Here’s how to talk about sampling multiple wines:

Basic Phrases for Saying "I’m Tasting…"

These are the foundational phrases you’ll build upon:

• Estoy probando… (I am tasting…) – The most straightforward option.
  • Example: "Estoy probando varios vinos tintos." (I am tasting several red wines.)
• Estoy degustando… (I am savoring/tasting…) – Slightly more formal and implies a more deliberate tasting.
  • Example: "Estoy degustando una selección de vinos blancos." (I am savoring a selection of white wines.)

How to Indicate You’re Trying Several Wines

Here are different ways to communicate that you’re not just tasting one wine:

• Varios/Varias (Several): Place it before the noun. "Varios vinos" (Several wines – masculine plural). "Varias copas" (Several glasses – feminine plural).

• Unos/Unas (Some): Can also mean "a few". "Unos vinos" (Some wines). "Unas copas" (Some glasses).

• Una selección de… (A selection of…): "Una selección de vinos de Rioja." (A selection of Rioja wines).

• Diferentes… (Different…): "Diferentes vinos blancos." (Different white wines).

Putting It All Together: Comprehensive Examples

Here are full sentences demonstrating how to say you are trying a lot of wines in Spanish:

1. Estoy probando varios vinos de la región. (I am tasting several wines from the region.)
2. Estoy degustando una selección de vinos tintos de Ribera del Duero. (I am savoring a selection of red wines from Ribera del Duero.)
3. Hemos probado unos vinos blancos muy interesantes. (We have tasted some very interesting white wines – using the "nosotros" form)
4. Estoy probando diferentes vinos, ¿cuál me recomiendas? (I am trying different wines, which one do you recommend?)

Understanding Common Wine Tasting Vocabulary

To fully participate in the conversation, you’ll need to understand common terms.

Colors and Appearance

Spanish Term	English Translation	Example
Tinto	Red	Este vino tinto tiene un color intenso. (This red wine has an intense color.)
Blanco	White	Prefiero el vino blanco con mariscos. (I prefer white wine with seafood.)
Rosado	Rosé	El vino rosado es perfecto para el verano. (Rosé wine is perfect for summer.)
Color	Color	El color es rubí. (The color is ruby.)
Brillante	Bright/Shiny	El vino tiene un color brillante. (The wine has a bright color.)

Aromas and Flavors

Spanish Term	English Translation	Example
Aroma	Aroma	Tiene un aroma a frutas rojas. (It has an aroma of red fruits.)
Sabor	Flavor	El sabor es a cereza. (The flavor is cherry.)
Frutas rojas	Red fruits	Este vino tiene notas de frutas rojas. (This wine has notes of red fruits.)
Frutas negras	Black fruits	Detecto aromas de frutas negras. (I detect aromas of black fruits.)
Especias	Spices	Tiene un toque de especias. (It has a touch of spices.)
Roble	Oak	Tiene notas de roble. (It has notes of oak.)
Seco	Dry	Este vino es seco. (This wine is dry.)
Dulce	Sweet	Este vino es dulce. (This wine is sweet.)
Acidez	Acidity	Tiene buena acidez. (It has good acidity.)
Taninos	Tannins	Los taninos son suaves. (The tannins are soft.)

General Impressions

Spanish Term	English Translation	Example
Delicioso	Delicious	¡Este vino es delicioso! (This wine is delicious!)
Interesante	Interesting	Es un vino interesante. (It is an interesting wine.)
Complejo	Complex	Es un vino complejo. (It is a complex wine.)
Equilibrado	Balanced	Es un vino equilibrado. (It is a balanced wine.)
Ligero	Light	Es un vino ligero. (It is a light wine.)
Intenso	Intense	El sabor es muy intenso. (The flavor is very intense.)
Largo/Persistente	Long/Persistent	Tiene un final largo. (It has a long finish.)
Recomendar	To recommend	¿Qué vino me recomiendas? (Which wine do you recommend?)

Example Conversation

Imagine you’re at a tasting. Here’s how you might use these phrases:

Tú (You): Estoy probando varios vinos tintos. ¿Qué uva es la más común aquí? (I am tasting several red wines. Which grape is the most common here?)

Sumiller (Sommelier): Tempranillo, sin duda. Es la base de muchos vinos de Rioja y Ribera del Duero. (Tempranillo, without a doubt. It is the base of many Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines.)

Tú (You): Estoy degustando una selección de vinos muy interesantes. Este tiene un aroma a frutas rojas. (I am savoring a selection of very interesting wines. This one has an aroma of red fruits.)

Sumiller (Sommelier): Correcto. Y notas sutiles de roble. (Correct. And subtle notes of oak.)

By using these phrases and vocabulary, you can confidently navigate a Spanish wine tasting and say you are trying a lot of wines in Spanish like a pro!

So, the next time you’re indulging in some Tempranillo or Albariño, remember these tips. With a little practice, you’ll be able to say you are trying a lot of wines in Spanish like a seasoned pro. ¡Salud!