Blind tasting drills. Example flights.

If you're looking to improve your blind tasting for an exam format setting, meaning 6 different wines at once, then practicing this format can help you prepare with timing, color, sight, aroma, palate and quality calibration.

Blind tasting wines side-by-side that are similar can be tough. 

Here are some examples flights you can practice with, have someone prepare for you or blind in your tasting groups.

The flights are separated by whites and reds. Three wines each.

White Wines

Aromatic white flight

1. Albariño, Rias Baixas

2. Torrontes, Cafayete Argentina

3. Viognier, California

Neutral Whites

1. Pinot Grigio, Collio, Friuli, Italy

2. Muscadet Sevre et Maine

3. Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

Oaked Whites

1. Meursault 1er Cru, Burgundy

2. Graves Blanc, Classified Growth

3. California Chardonnay

Lees / Yeasty

1. Chablis 1er Cru

2. Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie

3. Pinot Grigio, Collio, Friuli, Italy

High Acid Whites

1. Riesling, Mosel Kabinett

2. Chenin Blanc, Vouvray

3. Semillon, Hunter Valley Australia

Off Dry Whites

1. Pinot Gris, Grand Cru Alsace

2. Vouvray Demi-Sec

3. Riesling Spatlese, Mosel

Phenolic Bitterness

1. Pinot Grigio, Collio, Friuli, Italy

2. Grüner Veltliner, Smaragd, Wachau Austria

3. Gewurztraminer, Grand Cru Alsace

Red Wines

Elevated Acidity Reds

1. Pinot Noir, Côte d'Or (Village or 1er Cru)

2. Sangiovese. Tuscany

3. Barbera d'Alba

Diminished Acidity Reds

1. Zinfandel, Sonoma

2. Ripe Grenache, Rhone or New World

3. Ripe Bordeaux Blend, New World

Tannic Reds

1. Nebbiolo, Barolo (Serralunga)

2. Right Bank Bordeaux (Oaked)

3. Brunello di Montalcino

Dark, Purple Reds, Black fruit dominated, fruit forward

1. Malbec, Argentina

2. Shiraz, Australia

3. Carmenere, Chile

Dark, Purple Reds, Black fruit dominated, earth forward

1. Syrah, Northern Rhone

2. Barbera d'Alba

3. Tempranillo Ribera del Duero, Spain

Red, Ruby Reds, Red fruit dominated, jammy

1. Zinfandel, Sonoma

2. Chateauneuf du Pape

3. Pinot Noir, USA, Ripe example

Garnet Colored reds (not necessarily aged) 

1. Nebbiolo 5-7 years

2. Sangiovese 7-10 years

3. Rioja Gran Reserva 7-10 years

Example flights to practice with producers: 

Note, I'm just making suggestions on producers I think make classic styles and should be widely available.

The mix bag: Whites with 3-4 years age, high quality, different countries and styles, reds with some age, color and one outlyer.

1. Joseph Drouhin, Meursault 2012
2. Joh. Jos. Prüm, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2012
3. Prager, Achleiten Grüner Velitliner Smaragd 2012
4. La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza Reserva 2007
5. Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino 2008
6. Langmeil Shiraz, Valley floor, Barossa Valley 2013