The Spitting Image - Why and How to Properly Expectorate Wine

Enjoying wine as much as I do, the concept of sipping wine, only to spit it out, always stupefies me! Why on earth would one waste such a wonderful beverage unless it was either corked or really, really bad??  Further, doesn't part of the true tasting of wine require that the wine hit the back of the tongue?  So, I decided to research the reasons why anyone would treat wine so disrespectfully and what, if any, requirements there are to expectorating wine.

First, "spitting" is actually referred to as expectoration and the receptacle is generally referred to as a spittoon.  Interestingly, expectoration is expected and, often, encouraged at wine related events and most will offer spittoons for attendees.  I found several reasons offered for an act that, at first blush, seems like a waste.

First, imagine if your job every day was to taste wine.  First, WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT!??  But second, how would you travel from place to place?  How would you be able to interact with your family?  How bad would the effects be on your body?  There are those individuals whose life's work revolves around wine or they frequently attend formal tasting events that "require" them to taste dozens of wines.  Without the option to taste the wine, but not actually ingest it, it would be impossible to properly taste multiple wines or stand up at any given point in the day/evening.  Even given the expectoration of the wines during the tastings and depending on alcohol content, alcohol is still absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and one can still become intoxicated on some level.

Second, what if you are offering wines for tasting and (as I referred to above) the wine is either corked or has some other significant issue that requires you to get rid of it before it goes down your throat?  Having a spittoon available allows one to avoid that wide-eyed, desperate look that can be found on someone's face that wants to expectorate, but has nowhere to do so.  Even if a spittoon is not used, it is always advisable to have one available.  Just in case....

So, should you opt to expectorate (only refer to it as spitting if you are really close to the people you are with), there are a few important steps to take to properly taste the wine.  First, make sure the wine hits every surface of the inside of your mouth.  As we know, different parts of your tongue pick up different tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, etc.)  Also, to pick up tannins, the wine needs to make it all over your mouth. Also, it is recommended that one "chew" the wine to the proper parts of the anatomy that brings together our mouth and noses.  While "chewing" the wine, it is recommended to suck air into your mouth to enhance the taste.  While all this may feel odd, it is necessary if one is to get the proper taste from the wine.  Sucking air in can be tricky, however, and takes practice.

While I personally have never taken advantage of a spittoon, I would not hesitate to offer one, or utilize one if the proper situation presented itself.  However, it is my understanding that it is a learned art and that more than one individual has been left with wine running down their chin or have missed the spittoon altogether.  It takes practice to acquire good aim.  Like any part of wine tasting, don't be self conscious about it.  No one gets it right the first time.

Cheers!
Mary Jo

Wine Word of the Week

 

Enology - the science and study of wine and wine making. This is not to be confused with viticulture, which is the study of grape growing. Enology may aslo be spelled as, oenology.