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taste56 personalizes the wine shopping experience. We combine hospitality, intuitive Palate Character navigation, and our proprietary recommendations algorithm. Taste, then rate wines, and our Digital Somm tailors selections to your preferences, while also helping you to understand what you like and why by accessing the most important determinant of quality-your own palate.

 

Wine doesn’t have to be overwhelming. What it really comes down to is taste. Let your palate do the talking. Learn more.

 

How it Works

Taste

Visit our store for a complimentary tasting featuring 56 wines from our highly-curated collection.

Rate

Rate wines and learn how to better understand each along the way.

Understand

Learn more about the wines you love and the ones you don’t.

Shop

Shop with a deeper understanding of what works for your palate.

Meet Our Palate Characters

A New Way of Understanding Wine

Bright & Crisp Balance & Finesse Rich & Full Light & Bright Smooth & Silky Round & Fleshy Tone & Backbone Powerful & Extracted
Bright & Crisp
Refreshing, due to their higher acidity, these wines tend to have little or no oak, restrained alcohol, and are very versatile with a broad range of foods. They are lighter bodied, generally bone dry, with a textural zing!
Balance & Finesse
Subtlety is the name of the game here. Whether it is acidity, body, or alcohol, the corresponding parts don’t scream for attention. Rather, the emphasis is on how well they play together. 
Rich & Full
Rich & Full wines are full bodied, often with higher alcohol (or sweetness) and balanced or understated acidity. Sweetness can vary quite a bit, from higher alcohol dry California Chardonnay to sweet German Rieslings, but the commonality is a rich, weighty texture. 
Light & Bright
These light bodied Red and Rosé wines are often fruit forward in style with low tannin, and elevated acidity, but please don't call these wines lightweights! The bright acidity makes these wines not only versatile with food, but also refreshing and delicious by themselves. Serve with a slight chill.
Smooth & Silky
Elegant and approachable, Smooth & Silky wines are about finesse. The proportions of acidity, body, and alcohol are balanced and understated. As Aristotle wisely noted “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Round & Fleshy
As the name Round & Fleshy might suggest, these wines are not shy. From ripe grapes grown from warmer vintages and/or climates, these wines often have generous, ripe, almost sweet fruit and higher alcohol, with respectively lower tannin and balanced acidity. 
Tone & Backbone
Tone & Backbone represents wines with proportionally higher acidity and/or tannin that combine to create medium to full bodied wines. Not flashy, these dry wines are defined more by structure and restraint. The elevated tannin and acidity mean the wines particularly sing when combined with the right food, and will age gracefully.
Powerful & Extracted
Rich in flavor, dark in color, and full bodied. These wines err towards bold and intense, without sacrificing complexity. Balance is key; Powerful & Extracted wines are also age-worthy wines that often benefit from decanting to show their true colors.
WINES AVAILABLE TO TRY IN STORE

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Bright & Crisp

  1. Domaine de la Pépière La Pépié 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    La Pépière
    La Pépié
    2022
    Muscadet
    Loire
    France
    $19
  2. Raventos i Blanc Conca Del Riu Anoia Blanc de Blancs 2021
    Bright & Crisp
    Raventós i Blanc
    Blanc de Blancs
    2021
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $23
  3. Presqu'ile Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2021
    Bright & Crisp
    Presqu'ile
    Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
    2021
    Santa Barbara
    Central Coast
    California
    $24
  4. Beaumont Chenin Blanc 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    Beaumont
    Chenin Blanc
    2020
    Bot River
    South Africa
    $24
  5. Kumeu River Chardonnay 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    Kumeu River
    Chardonnay
    2022
    Auckland
    New Zealand
    $23
  6. Nigl Urgestein Riesling 2021
    Bright & Crisp
    Nigl
    Urgestein Riesling
    2021
    Kamptal
    Austria
    $27
  7. Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Leirana Albariño 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Leirana
    Albariño
    2022
    Rías Baixas
    Galicia
    Spain
    $33

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Balance & Finesse

  1. Bodegas Shaya Verdejo 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    Bodegas Shaya
    Verdejo
    2021
    Rueda
    Castilla y León
    Spain
    $16
  2. El Esteco Don David Reserve 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    El Esteco
    Don David Reserve
    2021
    Salta
    Argentina
    $17
  3. Savage Salt River 2022
    Balance & Finesse
    Savage Wines
    Salt River
    2022
    Stellenbosch
    South Africa
    $18
  4. Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    Bodegas Muga
    Rioja Blanco
    2021
    Rioja
    Spain
    $20
  5. Ossian Quintaluna 2020
    Balance & Finesse
    Bodegas Ossian
    Quintaluna
    2020
    Castilla y León
    Spain
    $24
  6. Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    Livio Felluga
    Pinot Grigio
    2021
    Collio
    Friuli
    Italy
    $34
  7. J.L. Chave Selections Circa 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    J.L. Chave Selections
    Circa
    2021
    Saint-Joseph
    No. Rhône Valley
    France
    $37

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Rich & Full

  1. Herència Altès Garnatxa Blanca 2022
    Rich & Full
    Herència Altés
    Garnatxa Blanca
    2022
    Terra Alta
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $15
  2. Valravn Sonoma County Chardonnay 2021
    Rich & Full
    Valravn Wine
    Sonoma County Chardonnay
    2021
    Sonoma
    California
    $21
  3. Clos du Caillou Le Bouquet des Garrigues 2021
    Rich & Full
    Le Clos du Caillou
    Le Bouquet des Garrigues
    2021
    Côtes du Rhône
    Rhône Valley
    France
    $30
  4. Talley Vineyards San Luis Obispo Coast Chardonnay 2020
    Rich & Full
    Talley Vineyards
    San Luis Obispo Coast Chardonnay
    2020
    San Luis Obispo
    Central Coast
    California
    $30
  5. E. Guigal Saint-Joseph 2020
    Rich & Full
    E. Guigal
    Saint-Joseph
    2020
    Saint-Joseph
    No. Rhône Valley
    France
    $42
  6. Fess Parker Ashley's Chardonnay 2019
    Rich & Full
    Fess Parker
    Ashley's Chardonnay
    2019
    Santa Rita Hills
    Central Coast
    California
    $42

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Light & Bright

  1. Tiberio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2022
    Light & Bright
    Tiberio
    Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
    2022
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    $21
  2. Val de Mer Brut Nature Rosé MV
    Light & Bright
    Val de Mer
    Brut Nature Rosé
    Multi-Vintage
    Burgundy
    France
    $21
  3. Sulauze Pomponette 2022
    Light & Bright
    Sulauze
    Pomponette
    2022
    Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
    Provence
    France
    $23
  4. Château Peyrassol Les Commandeurs Rosé 2022
    Light & Bright
    Château Peyrassol
    Les Commandeurs Rosé
    2022
    Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
    Provence
    France
    $26
  5. Sulauze Charbonnieres 2020
    Light & Bright
    Sulauze
    Charbonnières
    2020
    France
    $27
  6. Antoine Sunier Morgon 2021
    Light & Bright
    Antoine Sunier
    Morgon
    2021
    Beaujolais
    France
    $33

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Smooth & Silky

  1. Guímaro Mencía 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Guímaro
    Mencía
    2022
    Ribeira Sacra
    Galicia
    Spain
    $21
  2. Sulauze Les Amis 2021
    Smooth & Silky
    Sulauze
    Les Amis
    2021
    Provence
    France
    $24
  3. La Follette Los Primeros 2020
    Smooth & Silky
    La Follette
    Los Primeros
    2020
    Sonoma
    California
    $26
  4. Château Cambon Brouilly 2021
    Smooth & Silky
    Château Cambon
    Brouilly
    2021
    Beaujolais
    France
    $27
  5. County Line Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021
    Smooth & Silky
    County Line
    Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
    2021
    Sonoma Coast
    Sonoma
    California
    $36
  6. Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir San Lius Obispo Coast 2021
    Smooth & Silky
    Talley Vineyards
    San Luis Obispo Coast Pinot Noir
    2021
    Central Coast
    California
    $39
  7. Evening Land Seven Springs Pinot Noir 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Evening Land
    Seven Springs Pinot Noir
    2022
    Eola-Amity Hills
    Willamette Valley
    Oregon
    $48

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Round & Fleshy

  1. David Finlayson The Pepper Pot 2020
    Round & Fleshy
    David Finlayson
    The Pepper Pot
    2020
    Western Cape
    South Africa
    $16
  2. The Chook Shiraz Viognier 2020
    Round & Fleshy
    The Chook
    Shiraz Viognier
    2020
    McLaren Vale
    South Australia
    Australia
    $18
  3. Herència Altés La Pilosa 2019
    Round & Fleshy
    Herència Altés
    La Pilosa
    2019
    Terra Alta
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $27
  4. El Enemigo Malbec 2019
    Round & Fleshy
    El Enemigo
    Malbec
    2019
    Mendoza
    Argentina
    $28
  5. Eric Texier Brézème 2020
    Round & Fleshy
    Eric Texier
    Brézème
    2020
    Côtes du Rhône
    Rhône Valley
    France
    $35
  6. County Line Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2020
    Round & Fleshy
    County Line
    Russian River Valley Zinfandel
    2020
    Russian River Valley
    Sonoma
    California
    $37
  7. Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2021
    Round & Fleshy
    Melville
    Estate Pinot Noir
    2021
    Santa Barbara
    Central Coast
    California
    $38

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Tone & Backbone

  1. Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Cuvée Alouettes 2022
    Tone & Backbone
    La Chanteleuserie
    Cuvée Alouettes
    2022
    Bourgeuil
    Loire
    France
    $18
  2. A Telleira Mencia 2020
    Tone & Backbone
    A Telleira
    Mencia
    2020
    Ribeiro
    Galicia
    Spain
    $19
  3. Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
    Tone & Backbone
    Jules Taylor
    Marlborough Pinot Noir
    2019
    Marlborough
    New Zealand
    $22
  4. Franck Balthazar Côtes-du-Rhône 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Franck Balthazar
    Côtes-du-Rhône
    2021
    Côtes du Rhône
    Rhône Valley
    France
    $27
  5. Monteraponi Chianti Classico 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Monteraponi
    Chianti Classico
    2021
    Chianti Classico
    Tuscany
    Italy
    $32
  6. Pax Syrah North Coast 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Pax
    Syrah North Coast
    2021
    North Coast
    California
    $38
  7. Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Cristom
    Mt. Jefferson Cuvée
    2021
    Eola-Amity Hills
    Willamette Valley
    Oregon
    $43

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Powerful & Extracted

  1. E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    E. Guigal
    Côtes du Rhône
    2020
    Côtes du Rhône
    France
    $20
  2. Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat 2022
    Powerful & Extracted
    Alvaro Palacios
    Camins del Priorat
    2022
    Priorat
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $28
  3. Valravn Zinfandel 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    Valravn Wine
    Zinfandel
    2020
    Sonoma
    California
    $22
  4. Tinto Pesquera Crianza 2019
    Powerful & Extracted
    Tinto Pesquera
    Crianza
    2019
    Ribera del Duero
    Castilla y León
    Spain
    $30
  5. La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 2016
    Powerful & Extracted
    La Rioja Alta
    Viña Ardanza Reserva
    2016
    Rioja
    Spain
    $44
Shop Wines by Palate Character

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Bright & Crisp

  1. Burklin-Wolf Ruppertsberger Riesling Trocken 2021
    Bright & Crisp
    Burklin-Wolf
    Ruppertsberger Riesling Trocken
    2021
    Pfalz
    Germany
    $28
  2. Bright & Crisp
    Frenzy
    Mount Richmond Estate Sauvignon Blanc
    2023
    Marlborough
    New Zealand
    $15
  3. Vadin-Plateau 1er Cru Renaissance Extra Brut MV
    Bright & Crisp
    Vadin-Plateau
    1er Cru Renaissance Extra Brut
    Multi-Vintage
    Champagne
    France
    $56
  4. Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    Kumeu River
    Estate Chardonnay
    2022
    Auckland
    New Zealand
    $38
  5. Venica & Venica Ronco del Cerò 2022
    Bright & Crisp
    Venica & Venica
    Ronco del Cero
    2022
    Collio
    Friuli
    Italy
    $32

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Balance & Finesse

  1. Henri Perrusset Mâcon-Villages 2022
    Balance & Finesse
    Henri Perrusset
    Mâcon-Villages
    2022
    Mâcon
    Burgundy
    France
    $22
  2. A Telleira Godello 2022
    Balance & Finesse
    A Telleira
    Godello
    2022
    Ribeiro
    Galicia
    Spain
    $20
  3. Gini La Froscà 2020
    Balance & Finesse
    Gini
    La Froscà
    2020
    Veneto
    Italy
    $33
  4. El Esteco Don David Reserve 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    El Esteco
    Don David Reserve
    2021
    Salta
    Argentina
    $17
  5. Les Crêtes Petite Arvine 2021
    Balance & Finesse
    Les Crêtes
    Petite Arvine
    2021
    Valle d'Aosta
    Italy
    $28

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Rich & Full

  1. Diatom Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2022
    Rich & Full
    Diatom
    Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
    2022
    Santa Barbara
    Central Coast
    California
    $33
  2. Herència Altès Garnatxa Blanca 2022
    Rich & Full
    Herència Altés
    Garnatxa Blanca
    2022
    Terra Alta
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $15
  3. Vie di Romans Chardonnay 2021
    Rich & Full
    Vie di Romans
    Chardonnay
    2021
    Friuli
    Italy
    $44
  4. Mustiguillo Mestizaje Blanco 2020
    Rich & Full
    Bodegas Mustiguillo
    Mestizaje Blanco
    2020
    Castilla y León
    Spain
    $18
  5. Fess Parker Ashley's Chardonnay 2019
    Rich & Full
    Fess Parker
    Ashley's Chardonnay
    2019
    Santa Rita Hills
    Central Coast
    California
    $42

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Light & Bright

  1. Light & Bright
    Clos Fornelli
    La Robe d'Ange
    2022
    Corsica
    France
    $21
  2. Light & Bright
    Domaine Clusel-Roch
    Coteaux du Lyonnais Traboules
    2021
    Coteaux du Lyonnais
    France
    $26
  3. de Fermo La Cince Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore 2022
    Light & Bright
    de Fermo
    Le Cince Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore
    2022
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    $41
  4. Tiberio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2022
    Light & Bright
    Tiberio
    Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
    2022
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    $21
  5. Sulauze Pomponette 2022
    Light & Bright
    Sulauze
    Pomponette
    2022
    Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
    Provence
    France
    $23

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Smooth & Silky

  1. Lioco Mendocino County Pinot Noir 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Lioco
    Mendocino County Pinot Noir
    2022
    $25
  2. Turley Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Turley
    Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault
    2022
    Lodi
    Central Valley
    California
    $31
  3. Evening Land Seven Springs Pinot Noir 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Evening Land
    Seven Springs Pinot Noir
    2022
    Eola-Amity Hills
    Willamette Valley
    Oregon
    $48
  4. Guímaro Mencía 2022
    Smooth & Silky
    Guímaro
    Mencía
    2022
    Ribeira Sacra
    Galicia
    Spain
    $21
  5. Peay Vineyards Cep Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2020
    Smooth & Silky
    Peay Vineyards Cep
    Cep Pinot Noir
    2020
    Sonoma Coast
    Sonoma
    California
    $43

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Round & Fleshy

  1. Round & Fleshy
    Andrew Murray
    Tous Les Jours Syrah
    2021
    Santa Barbara
    Central Coast
    California
    $20
  2. David Finlayson The Pepper Pot 2020
    Round & Fleshy
    David Finlayson
    The Pepper Pot
    2020
    Western Cape
    South Africa
    $16
  3. Sandlands Red Table Wine 2021
    Round & Fleshy
    Sandlands
    Red Table Wine
    2021
    Lodi
    Central Valley
    California
    $34
  4. El Enemigo Malbec 2019
    Round & Fleshy
    El Enemigo
    Malbec
    2019
    Mendoza
    Argentina
    $28
  5. Herència Altés La Pilosa 2019
    Round & Fleshy
    Herència Altés
    La Pilosa
    2019
    Terra Alta
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $27

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Tone & Backbone

  1. Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Cuvée Alouettes 2022
    Tone & Backbone
    La Chanteleuserie
    Cuvée Alouettes
    2022
    Bourgeuil
    Loire
    France
    $18
  2. Tone & Backbone
    Golan Heights Winery
    Hermon Mount Hermon Red
    2022
    Galilee
    Israel
    $16
  3. Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Uccelliera
    Rosso di Montalcino
    2021
    Montalcino
    Tuscany
    Italy
    $28
  4. Faury Les Ribaudes St. Joseph 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Faury
    Les Ribaudes St. Joseph
    2021
    Saint-Joseph
    No. Rhône Valley
    France
    $43
  5. Château Le Puy Duc des Nauves 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Le Puy
    Duc des Nauves
    2021
    Bordeaux
    France
    $24

OUR PALATE CHARACTERS

Powerful & Extracted

  1. Valravn Zinfandel 2022
    Powerful & Extracted
    Valravn Wine
    Zinfandel
    2022
    Sonoma
    California
    $22
  2. San Salvatore Jungano 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    San Salvatore
    Jungano
    2020
    Paestum
    Campania
    Italy
    $30
  3. E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    E. Guigal
    Côtes du Rhône
    2020
    Côtes du Rhône
    France
    $20
  4. Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat 2022
    Powerful & Extracted
    Alvaro Palacios
    Camins del Priorat
    2022
    Priorat
    Catalunya
    Spain
    $28
  5. P.S. Garcia Facundo 2018
    Powerful & Extracted
    P.S. Garcia
    Facundo
    2018
    Maule
    Chile
    $34

EXPLORE WINES FROM ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE

Tour de France

  1. Henri Perrusset Mâcon-Villages 2022
    Balance & Finesse
    Henri Perrusset
    Mâcon-Villages
    2022
    Mâcon
    Burgundy
    France
    $22
  2. Light & Bright
    Clos Fornelli
    La Robe d'Ange
    2022
    Corsica
    France
    $21
  3. Light & Bright
    Domaine Clusel-Roch
    Coteaux du Lyonnais Traboules
    2021
    Coteaux du Lyonnais
    France
    $26
  4. Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Cuvée Alouettes 2022
    Tone & Backbone
    La Chanteleuserie
    Cuvée Alouettes
    2022
    Bourgeuil
    Loire
    France
    $18
  5. Vadin-Plateau 1er Cru Renaissance Extra Brut MV
    Bright & Crisp
    Vadin-Plateau
    1er Cru Renaissance Extra Brut
    Multi-Vintage
    Champagne
    France
    $56
  6. Château Le Puy Duc des Nauves 2021
    Tone & Backbone
    Le Puy
    Duc des Nauves
    2021
    Bordeaux
    France
    $24
  7. E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    E. Guigal
    Côtes du Rhône
    2020
    Côtes du Rhône
    France
    $20
  8. E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020
    Powerful & Extracted
    E. Guigal
    Côtes du Rhône
    2020
    Côtes du Rhône
    France
    $20
  9. Sulauze Pomponette 2022
    Light & Bright
    Sulauze
    Pomponette
    2022
    Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
    Provence
    France
    $23
  10. Sulauze Pomponette 2022
    Light & Bright
    Sulauze
    Pomponette
    2022
    Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
    Provence
    France
    $23
  11. Isabelle Garrault Les Grands Monts 2022
    Bright & Crisp