How a Horizontal Tasting Works
All wines share the same vintage but come from different sources. For example:
- 2019 Burgundy Premier Cru: Gevrey-Chambertin, Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Nuits-Saint-Georges
- 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Opus One, Caymus, Silver Oak, Screaming Eagle
What You Learn
- Terroir differences — how different soils and microclimates express themselves in the same year
- Winemaker style — modern vs. traditional, new oak vs. neutral, early vs. late harvest
- Regional character — sub-regional differences within a larger area
- Value assessment — which wines over-deliver for their price within a vintage
Organising a Horizontal
- Select a single vintage and region
- Choose 4-8 wines from different producers or vineyard sites
- Taste blind if possible — removes label bias
- Group by sub-region or style for structured comparison
- Include a range of price points for value discovery
The Power of Comparison
Horizontal tastings are revelatory because they isolate the variable of place and producer while holding vintage constant. This makes terroir and style differences immediately apparent in a way that tasting wines individually never could.