Summary:
Wine lovers are captivated by a single elusive question: what makes a wine truly great? This essay explores the deeper dimensions of wine appreciation to come to an understanding of greatness. Drawing from her research as a book author and her executive wine tastings, wine expert Karen MacNeil introduces 12 essential attributes that define the world’s greatest wines—each one offering a pathway to discover not just good wine, but phenomenal wine.
Most of us hope to taste at least some great wines sometime in our lives, and those of us in the wine business spend our entire “wine lives” tasting in pursuit of wines’ greatness. In my role as a professional wine speaker, greatness is also a theme I love to address in corporate wine tastings and executive wine seminars. For who doesn’t want to taste the best wines in the world?
What Does Great Wine Taste Like?
There’s just one issue: how do you know if the wine you’re drinking is, in fact, great? What exactly does great wine taste like?
Let me say off the top that no one needs any pointers when it comes to wines they like to drink. Subjectivity in wine is pretty easy. But a wine is not great merely because we like it. You may have loved that carafe of wine in the trattoria in Tuscany, . . . and yet know that it was not, in the end, a great wine.
I would argue that to really know wine—and to consider its potential greatness— we need to move beyond what we know we like. We need to attempt a larger, more objective understanding of wines that have garnered respect, wines that have consistently been singled out for their merit, wines that have, again and again over time, been cherished for their integrity and beauty.
The 12 Characteristics of Great Wine
Here then are the 12 attributes I believe all great wines share, no matter where those wines are from or what variety of grapes they are made from. In the executive wine tastings I conduct, I share my ideas on each of these attributes, and we taste a wine that demonstrates each attribute—12 great wines in all.
It’s a phenomenal wine experience.
My 12 Characteristics that Make Wine Great are: distinction, precision, balance, aliveness, choreography, shape/direction, beyond-fruitedness, complexity, connectedness, length, capacity to age, and finally, the ability to evoke an emotional response.
Just imagine a wine tasting where you experience each one!
About Karen MacNeil: Event Speaker and Wine Expert
Karen MacNeil is the CEO and President of Karen MacNeil & Company LLC. She gives executive speeches and conducts wine tastings and wine events for companies worldwide. You can find out more and contact her at www.karenmacneil.com. The attributes mentioned in this blog are explored in depth in Karen’s bestselling book The Wine Bible, 3rd edition (Workman/Hachette Book Group; New York).
FAQs
1. What makes a wine truly “great” rather than just enjoyable?
While personal preference plays a role in wine appreciation, greatness goes beyond what any individual may like. According to wine expert Karen MacNei, there are 12 characteristics that make any wine truly great.
2. Can anyone learn to identify the characteristics of great wine?
Yes! With guided tastings and a bit of curiosity, anyone can begin to recognize the 12 key attributes that define great wine. Professional speaker, wine expert, and book author Karen MacNeil conducts corporate wine tastings designed so that participants can experience these traits firsthand.
3. What happens during Karen MacNeil’s executive wine tastings on great wine?
Participants explore 12 distinct wines, each chosen to highlight one of the 12 characteristics of greatness. Through tasting and lively discussion, guests gain a deeper, more objective understanding of what elevates a wine from good to truly exceptional. It’s an immersive and enlightening experience for wine lovers at any level.