Wine Tasting
Wine tasting should be fun. The following steps will help you appreciate and understand the nuances of each variety.
See
Tilt the glass away from you against a white background
Look at the color, particularly at the rim
Reds range from pale tawny to deep purple
Whites range from pale greenish-yellow to deep gold
Swirl
Maximizes the wine's surface area
Releases more aromas (bouguet)
Sniff
Notice the intensity of the aromas
What do the aromas remind you of?
Negative ("off") smells include vinegar, sherry, cork, sulfur
Sip
Hold wine in your mouth for 3 seconds
Is the wine sweet, sour, bitter, astringent, alcoholic?
Gauge the body; is it like skim milk or heavy cream?
How does the wine feel in your mouth?
Savor
Assess the wine as a whole; do you like it?
Are all the elements in balance?
Is the wine light, medium, or full-bodied?