Have you ever heard someone talk about wine and think to yourself… what are they talking about? Here you’ll be introduced to the basics of wine tasting. Try these steps the next time you open a bottle and see if your favorite wine tastes a little different after thinking about it a bit. The more your practice, the better you get!
Wine professionals don’t actually consume all the wine they taste. After each sip they spit it out into a cup or bucket. As you progress and to help sharpen your nose…smell and/or taste some of the fruits, herbs, flowers, oak etc that are commonly found in wines to help you identify them in your next glass.
STEP ONE: Look at the wine
You’re checking for clarity, color, gas
- Is it clear? Hazy?
- What color is it?
- White wines: light straw, yellow, golden
- Red wines: purple, red, garnet
- Is there gas? Still (no gas), sparkling (full bubbles) or effervescent (a light fizz)?
STEP TWO: Nose/Smell the wine
You’re checking for fruits, herbs, minerality, oak, off odors
- Do you smell wet cardboard? Vinegar? Barnyard?
- Fruits, non fruits, herbs
- White wines: citrus, peach, pineapple, apple, wet stone, flowers, honey, petrol, yeast, yogurt, oak
- Red wines: dark fruits, oak, mushroom, tobacco, chocolate, vanilla, cherry cola, forest floor, bell pepper
STEP THREE: Palate/Taste the wine- take a small sip to “shock” your palate, then take a second and start thinking about what you’re tasting
- Sweet or dry?
- Confirming anything you smelled… anything extra? Different?
- Acidity- did your mouth water?
- Body/Mouthfeel- how did it coat your mouth? Like skim milk (light body), whole mild (medium body), heavy cream (full body)
- Tannin- did your mouth dry out?
- Finish- did it disappear quickly or linger?
STEP FOUR: Overall assessment
- Was it well balanced?
- Was any one note overpowering?
And that’s it! That’s how all wine professionals learn how to taste wine. The next step is to learn what is all means! In the meantime, have fun sharpening your new skillset.
CHEERS!