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    Home » Op Ed

    Expectorate: The Silliest Thing I've Ever Done with Wine

    Last Updated: Sep 29, 2022 By: Chef Christina

    Expectorate! No, it's not a magic spell, that would be much cuter. Expectorate is a term used to describe coughing up phlegm or spitting. But it's actually the silliest thing I've ever done with wine. And if you knew what I was up against, you might not judge.

    A group of stemless wine glasses set over a menu on a table.
    Jump to:
    • The Story
    • The Definition
    • Expectorate Like a Sommelier
    • The Why
    • Inebriation Epilogue
    • More on Wine
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    • 💬 Reviews

    The Story

    I actually think the action verb expectorate sounds magical. Like an incantation, you'd learn at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But in reality, it's quite a primal act. Spit.

    The Definition

    expectorate

    verb (used without object), ex·pec·to·rat·ed, ex·pec·to·rat·ing.
    to eject or expel matter, as phlegm, from the throat or lungs by coughing or hawking and spitting; spit.

    The term expectorate is mostly used in medical situations to describe the act of coughing up phlegm (🤢). Or a medicine that helps you do so. But by no means do doctors and drug companies own exclusive rights to this less-than-appealing action verb. Master sommeliers are a lesser-known talented group with skin in the expectorate game.

    Expectorate Like a Sommelier

    My first - and last - expectorate experience was an introductory sommelier course with the Court of Master Sommeliers. The Court is an association of the most masterful, talented wine geeks around. A fun bunch, as I expected. Amazingly engaging and amusing, except for the part when they told me to expectorate wine (insert the sounds of quiet sobbing).

    Wine tasting four different wines at a Court of Master Sommelier introductory certification course.

    This was not my first rodeo wine tasting (living in California provides plenty of opportunities). But never, had I ever, sent it back out. Always down the hatch. But alas, when you imbibe for educational purposes, frivolity is sacrificed.

    The Why

    Sommelier certification courses are intense. And get increasingly difficult as you take your wine tasting skills to the next level. The first-level course through the Court of Master Sommeliers is an entire weekend of blind tasting 12 wines a day. And it all begins before breakfast. So truly, if you didn't spit out your sips, you'd be toast by lunch and remember nothing. Not a good use of the few hundred dollars you pay to enroll in the course.

    A black and white image of a paper cup used to "expectorate" wine at a Court of Master Sommeliers introductory course.

    Inebriation Epilogue

    And becoming buzzed would cloud your memory of the clarity, brightness, intensity, color, rim variation, viscosity, intensity, bouquet, fruit notes, earthiness, woody aromas, sweetness level, body, tannins, alcohol, acidity, complexity, and length of finish of each wine. For me, that was 18 reasons to expectorate. At least in the name of education. Otherwise, there was no chance of gaining anything from the course other than a mind-numbing stupor.


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    Filed Under: Drinks, Op Ed Tagged With: Court of Master Sommeliers, drinks, sommeliers, wine, wine tasting

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Joan W

      May 13, 2012 at 10:05 am

      I was wondering how you would be able to drive home after a full day of wine drinking.

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        May 13, 2012 at 6:21 pm

        If I drank even half the wine they put in front of us, I would have needed emergency medical attention.

        Reply
    2. Winnie

      May 12, 2012 at 10:10 pm

      My hubby and I honeymooned at a vineyard on Long Island. After the first day, we learned we couldn't really drink it all! We have so many vineyards here, and I hope to take some classes on wine appreciation so we are more knowledgeable the next time we go out there. We had a blast, and I found out that yes, there are some great wines grown here locally.

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        May 13, 2012 at 6:20 pm

        It sure does catch up with you quick. We want to make out to the North Fork before long. Hope it was great!

        Reply
    3. Heather@Creative Family Moments

      May 12, 2012 at 7:41 pm

      We went wine tasting today too. I'm afraid I don't have the swirl down yet. Too good to expectorate! ( ;

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        May 13, 2012 at 6:21 pm

        Expectorating is definitely not the tastiest option.

        Reply

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