5 Beginner Steps You Can Take To Taste Wine
Step One: SEE
You’d be surprised by how much you can tell about a wine just by inspecting it. A deeper, more intense color, whether that’s white or red, can indicate how strong the wine’s flavor may be. It can also indicate a wine’s age. White wines gain darker hues as they age, while red wines actually lose their color over time.
Step Two: SWIRL
Swirling wine in its glass before you taste it is an important part of the tasting process. It adds oxygen to the wine, allowing the flavors to open up and aromas to rise, catching on the lip of the glass – which will help with the next step. Sometimes, you may notice that the wine stays a while on the sides of the glass. This is referred to as “legs” or the “tears” of the wine and indicates its viscosity. A more pronounced viscosity generally translates to a more rounded mouthfeel.
Step Three: SMELL
After you’ve swirled the wine, allowing its aromas to rise, it’s time to smell by putting your nose right into the glass (without touching the wine!). You might smell vegetation, wood, minerals, and even smoke or wet stones. These exist in wine aromas because of the rich array of flavor elements. It’s normal to detect unusual aromas. A wine’s smell can also change once it’s in contact with air.
Step Four: SIP
The main event! The steps before should have given you a good feeling for the wine and how it may taste. To properly taste wine, try to let some air in while sipping and hold it in your mouth for 3-5 seconds. To get technical, there are three types of flavour to look out for:
Primary: These are the most dominant aromas and come from the grapes themselves. They could be fruity, floral, spicy, or anything in between.
Secondary: Secondary flavors come from the fermentation process, or the actual barrel that the wine was put in, so are often oaky, for example.
Tertiary: The tertiary flavors can become more complex as time goes on because they occur through the aging process. Again, you may notice odd flavors here, which is perfectly normal.
Step Five: SAVOR
The final step is to “finish” your taste of wine. No matter if you swallow it or use a spittoon or a bucket, you’ll notice how the flavors linger on your palate. You may notice a powerful finish, where new flavors develop, or there might be a nice acidity which has a cleansing effect. Take time to savor the flavors and see what you notice.
Spitting – It’s not just acceptable; it’s an exhilarating way to taste a variety of fabulous wines without the tipsy side effects. Dive into the experience, savor the flavors, and explore a world of wines while keeping your head clear for the next delicious pour! Cheers to more tastings and less buzz!