Wine Tasting

One of the best techniques to use in choosing a wine is to be able to actually taste the beverage. This does not mean that you simply take a swig to declare if it is good wine or not. On the contrary, wine tasting has a particular technique to it to help you to truly appreciate and discern a good wine when you taste it.

What to Look For

In general, when tasting wine you first look at the appearance of a wine. Next you experience how it smells, then comes the first impression in the mouth, followed by the total flavor in the mouth, and then the aftertaste.

The Technique

It is common to choose 5 wines at a time to compare. If you are entirely new to the world of wine, then you may simply choose 5 wines of any type, but for those that are a little more experienced with wine, you might choose 5 different varieties of white wine or perhaps 5 different merlots to compare. It is a good idea to at least cover the labels of the wines that you taste so that your opinion of any vintage is not swayed simply by the maker or the appearance of the label. It is good wine tasting practice to always taste younger, lighter wines before tasting older, more full-bodied ones so that your palette is not overwhelmed. As you begin, hold the tasting glass where it is against a white background so that you can see the wine's clarity and color. As you swirl the liquid around the glass, look at the wine's "legs" that run down the sides of the glass. The slower moving the legs, the denser the flavor of the wine. It is now time to smell the wine. The aroma should be easy to detect after swirling the liquid several times. Your over all first impression when you first sniff is your best judge. Think of what the smell reminds you of. Vinegar or mold makes a bad wine, but mushrooms, citrus, honey, or even flowers are all positive smells. As you take an actual taste of the wine, make sure to take a generous sip and then swirl it around your mouth. The drink will feel light, medium, or even heavy in your mouth. You will also taste sweetness, acidity, tannin, and actual alcohol as well. A harmony of tastes and sensations in your mouth is desirable, whereas one element standing out is not a good thing. The aftertaste of the wine is the final aspect to consider. Think about how long the flavor of the wine stays in your mouth after you swallow. The longer the taste lingers, the better the wine. If wine tasting truly fascinates you, there are wine tasting classes that are available.