How to Taste Wine Like a Pro

Wine tasting combines your knowledge of wine with your sensory experience. It’s important to understand how to taste wine so that you can fully maximise the experience as well as the taste of each wine you are tasting. This guide will walk you through the steps and tips to enhance your wine tasting skills.

The importance of the right glass

When learning how to taste wine, the type of glass you use can make all the difference.

A proper wine glass allows you to swirl the wine, releasing its aromas and enhancing the tasting experience. As a simple rule of thumb:

• Red wines: glasses with large bowls
• White wines: glasses with smaller bowls

Observe the wine

Before you even take a sip, take a moment to observe the wine. You can notice more visual signs from the wine when you tilt the glass and observe the drink against a white background.

Some things you can note about the wine at first glance are its colour, clarity, and viscosity. This step in how to taste wine helps you anticipate the wine’s characteristics. The colour can give you clues about the age and type of wine, while the viscosity, or “legs,” can indicate alcohol content.

Swirl and sniff

Swirling the wine in your glass releases its aromas. To do this, place the glass on a flat surface, hold the stem, and gently swirl.

Bring the glass to your nose and take a deep sniff. Identifying the aromas is a crucial part of how to taste wine. Try to pick out different scents such as fruits, flowers, spices, or even earthy notes. This practice will improve your ability to recognise and describe wines.

Take the first sip

Once you’ve noted how the wine looks and smells, it’s time to taste. Take a small sip and let it sit in your mouth. Swish it around your mouth until the wine covers your tongue’s surface area.

This step in wine tasting allows you to experience the full range of flavours and textures. Pay attention to the initial taste, the mid-palate, and the finish.

Identifying flavours

As you taste the wine, think about the flavours you’re experiencing. This is where you really have to take time, as each bottle of wine will carry multiple flavours, notes, and aftertastes. Are there notes of berries, citrus, or oak? Which flavours are stronger?

This part of how to taste wine involves matching what you taste with what you smelled earlier. The more wines you taste, the better you’ll become at identifying and describing these flavours.

Evaluate the wine

After you’ve tasted the wine, take a moment to evaluate it. Consider its balance, complexity, and finish.

A well-balanced wine will have a harmonious blend of flavours, acidity, and tannins. Complexity refers to the depth and variety of flavours. The finish is how long the taste lingers after you’ve swallowed.

Learning how to taste wine involves assessing these elements to appreciate the wine fully.

Cleanse your palate

You’ll want to taste each wine on a blank slate, so it’s important to cleanse your palate between tastings. This ensures that each wine’s flavours stand out and aren’t mixing with notes from the previous wine.

To cleanse your palate, take a sip of water or a bite of plain bread.

Keep notes

If you’re serious about enhancing your wine knowledge, you can keep a wine journal to document your tastings.

Here are some key information you’ll want to jot down in this journal:

• Wine name
• Vintage
• Region
• Tasting notes: flavour profiles, aromas, aftertaste, complexity, and finish

This habit is a key part of how to taste wine effectively, as it helps you remember what you liked and didn’t like, and improves your tasting skills over time.

Mastering how to taste wine is a journey that involves engaging all your senses and honing your ability to detect and describe a wide range of flavours and aromas. By following these steps and practising regularly, you’ll soon be able to taste wine like a pro and enjoy your wine experience to the fullest.

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