Wine Tasting in Five Easy Steps
Sight/Look- Check the wine’s color and intensity. Use a sheet of white paper or a white wall as a contrast to the glass and calibrate your eyes to the liquid’s true color. Note any visible physical characteristics such as sediment or viscosity.
Swirl- Swish the wine around in a circular motion in the glass. This will induce the release of aromas in the bouquet of the wine.
Nose/Smell- While it is definitely tempting to insert your nose into the glass, try extending the glass as far as you can while still being able to smell the aromas. This is the wine’s intensity. As you moved the glass closer, notice which aromas appear first, are they; floral, fruity, earthy, herbal, or something else entirely (Mineral, gasoline, honey, etc) ?
Palate/Sip- Avoid immediately swallowing your first sip and instead hold it in your mouth while swirling the liquid around with your tounge. It is at this point that I suggest formulating an initial opinion; DO YOU LIKE THE WINE? yes/no? Very simple. Next, note the flavors that come easily to mind. In the beginning, you may only think of grapes, or wine- THIS IS OKAY! as you develop your palate, you will naturally become more aware of distinctive flavors and be able to identify them. Finally, swallow or spit the wine and concentrate on the flavor and feeling left in your mouth. How long does the flavor or feeling last? The answer to this question helps to determine the complexity of the wine.
(Optional) Spit- Yes! swirl the wine around in your mouth and then spit it out! Don’t be shy about this step. It is quite polite to keep your mind and palate fresh when tasting multiple wines at one time.
