Here's what we are going to do. You will need 4 wines to do this, so I recommend going to your favorite local wine bar or getting a few friends together and doing a BYOB. You will need 2 whites and 2 reds. Focus here mainly on the mouthfeel for this experiment initially, then have some fun with it, that is what wine drinking is all about after all.
White #1= Vermentino. A light crisp coastal Tuscan wine from Moris Farms or Tenuta La Badiola will do.
White #2= Viognier. Muralia makes a good example wine here.
Red #1=Sangiovese. There are many different labels to look for here, but the important thing is to try and find something as close to 100% as possible, and avoid Riserva wines or those with heavy oak influences.
Red #2=Cabernet Sauvignon. Its okay so spend a little money here, but go for a well known producer. Look for one of the array of 'Supertuscan' wines from the Maremma. Again try to find one that is as close to 100% varietal as possible.
Now we have the wines selected. Of course still taste in the same manner as you would before, but when you are physically tasting the wine focus on noticing how the wine feels on your palate. For the whites, the Vermentino will be lighter and racier with higher acidity where the Viognier will feel thicker and more oily-richer across the mouth. The same should happen for the reds, but it won't be oily so much. The Cabernet will be higher in tannin and will feel differently than the light bodied high acid Sangiovese.
I hope we all get the chance to try this out very soon and it helps you to find the style of wine that fits you best. Remember to have fun with it, after all you are drinking good wine aren't you? Life is too short to drink bad wine. Grab some good cheeses and cured meats and make a party out of it all. Salute!
