Introduction to wine tasting: the process of tasting wine

Photo by Elle Hughes on Unsplash

The process of tasting wine

Tasting wine - rather than just knocking the stuff back - brings together different senses to determine different elements of the wine.  By doing so, you might enjoy the wine even more than you do already!

Pour the wine into your glass until approximately a quarter to a third full.

See

Tilt the glass away from you, ideally over a white piece of paper.

• Is it clear and bright or cloudy / has bits floating in it? (This is your first test for faults in the wine)

• Is it lighter or darker in colour? (While different grapes produce different shades and hues of colour, the general rule of thumb is that white wines become darker as they age, and red wines lighten)

Sniff

Without swirling, hold the glass in the following positions - when you can you smell the wine?

• Against your sternum

• With the rim against your chin

• With your nose in the glass

Does it smell like. . . Wine?  (This is your second test for faults in the wine)

Can you smell anything from the list of aromas and flavours?  If so, what?  Is it a light smell or a strong one?

Swirl

Swirl the glass and sniff again.

Have any of the smells changed?

Can you smell any new ones?

Sip

Now for the bit you thought you were here for all along!

Take a small sip, coat the entire mouth, palate and tongue and swallow - or spit, if you want to be a real pro.

Take a second small sip.  Carefully draw in air through your lips, over the wine.  The intention is to get some of the extra aromas in the wine to hit the smell receptors in your soft palate.

Can you taste the same aromas you smelled?  Can you taste anything more?

Is it dry or sweet?

How acidic does it feel in your mouth?  Does it make you salivate more than normal?

If it's a red wine, can you feel any tannins?  Do you feel a kind of 'grip' or friction when you pass your tongue over the roof of your mouth?  Do you feel like your mouth is drying and even that your gums might be peeling away from your teeth(!)?

Can you taste the alcohol?  Can you feel a burn at the back of your throat?

How much body does it have?  Compare the feeling of the weight of the liquid in your mouth to the weight of water.  Is it the same or heavier?

Do the flavours persist after you've swallowed?  How long for?  Do you get any new flavours coming out?

Do you like it?