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Wine Tasting Tips

Tasting new wines can be an intimidating process. Try it a few times with friends and get a good feel for how you like your wine and how you like to sample new flavors. A great way to do this is a wine tasting party! Just grab some invitations,  wine glasses  and varied bottles of red  and white wine.  If you don't want to do just a standard comparison, grab some cheeses  as well and see which cheese you like best with which flavor. For after party gifts, wine glass charms  are a great way to show your appreciation. If nothing else, it's a great chance to get your group of friends together.

Either way, if you want to look like you know your stuff when touring the vineyards or when at a wine tasting, here are some general tips to follow.

See

Pour your wine half-way into the proper wine glass and look at the color. Is it a deep burgundy red wine or a greenish-gold white wine? This will all tell a little bit about the wine. Tilt the wine glass and look at the wine through the rim to see the variation from the deepest part to the edges. Beyond the color, look at the clarity, whether the wine is brilliant or cloudy with particles. Clarity is most evident when light is shining sideways through the glass. An older wine red wine will be more translucent than a younger red wine.

Swirl

Swirl the wine glass in your hand or by moving it in circles on a flat surface. The best method is to hold the stem between your thumb and forefinger, with the base on a table, and rotate with your wrist. Notice the transparent film that appears on the inside of the bowl--these are what many refer to as "legs." These are simply an indication of the amount of alcohol in the wine. So if you run into an "expert" who says you can learn a lot about a wine from its legs, he or she is probably making it up.

Smell

After you've give the wine a good swirl, all the aromas will be intensified. Stick your nose right into the bowl of the glass and inhale. You can either take one long inhale or a few short ones. Try both and see which draws the best aromas in your nose. Human beings can identify close to some 10,000 different smells, we just need to train our nose and brain to distinguish between them all. You will hear many terms you never imagined used to describe wine aromas, including tobacco, tea, grass and cat urine. These are all accurate, but may not describe what you are smelling. That doesn't mean you are wrong--all wines develop in a glass at varying rates. Some of the more common terms used to describe wine are rose, iris, cherry, grapefruit, apple, raisin, honey and vanilla. The aroma is the most revealing aspect of wine tasting and can tell volumes on the wine. To get a better handle on what you're looking for, check out a tasting guide. 

Sip

Tasting a wine is different from simply drinking the wine. With the aromas still in your senses, put the glass to your lips and take a sip. Make sure to don't take too much or too little. Roll the wine around throughout your mouth putting it in contact with every part to unlock your senses. Notice the sensations that some wines provoke. For example, the astringency of tannins is felt mainly in your inner cheeks and the burn of the alcohol lingers in the back of the throat. And now for the finish. After you swallow, exhale gently through your nose and mouth. What do you feel? Generally speaking, a better wine will have more complex and long-lasting residual aromas. After a long day of tasting it can be difficult to remember all those smells and scents so make sure to have a pen and paper  handy to keep track of the experience. Some wine tasting cards  may be helpful as well 

Want to to try wine tasting at home? Search for a wine tasting kit  for yourself or as a gift for the wine enthusiast!

Related Guides

Red Wines

Red wines  tend to be slightly dryer than whites. This guide will help you navigate the expansive world of red wine!

Wine Tasting Notes for Burgundy

Here are some wine tasting notes to keep in mind when trying different types of Burgundy wine.  Sometimes it helps to know what other people have said!

Blush Wines

Blush  or wines  tend to be slightly sweeter in taste. They are a light red color and are oftentimes served chilled. 

White Wines

White wines  are great for beginner wine tasters! They tend to vary greatly in taste and detail, making for a good study when trying lots of different kinds. 

Dessert Wines

Dessert wines  have more sugar and a higher alcohol content. They are meant to complement desserts at the end of a meal. There are great suggestions on this guide!
 

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