Tasting wine is easy, fun, and entirely a matter of opinion.
Certainly, there are those who make a living tasting wine, who have the ‘refined palette’ mentioned in gourmet magazines, who can describe wines in terms so technical they almost sound like chemists, instead of like wine aficionados. And these people are very handy to have around – to make suggestions and to write reviews on wine.
But for most of us, tasting wine is about enjoyment.
Tasting wine employs three of your five senses: sight, smell and taste, and it is the interaction of all three senses that makes wine unique. So relax and prepare to really consider what you taste when you taste wine.
Sight. The eyes.
Look at the wine. Its color (called the robe) will give you clues about the age of the wine and its origin.
Hold the wine glass by the stem, against a white background – a piece of paper or a tablecloth.
Swirl the wine around in the glass, and observe how quickly the liquid flows back down the sides of the glass when you stop. If the wine droplets fall quickly down the side, the wine is lighter and holds less alcohol. If the wine forms streaks down the inside of the glass that hold for several moments, that indicates a higher alcohol and/or sugar content. The streaks – called ‘legs’ – are your first indication of the power of the wine.
Now consider the color of the wine.
White wines range in color from green to yellow. More color will typically indicate more age and more flavor. But beware, because while time improves red wine, it can actually ruin white wine.
Red wine color can range from a pale red to a deep brownish red. In red wine, expect the color to lighten as it ages. Tilt the glass of red wine slightly and look at the edge of the wine – a purplish tint could indicate a young wine, while an orangish or brownish tint indicates a more mature wine.
The nose.
Sniff the wine as soon as it’s poured. Don’t be shy - position your nose inside the rim of the glass –that’s the best way to shut out other scents and focus on the wine’s aroma. The primary aromas will give you some general characteristics of the wine.
What do you smell? Fruit? Flowers? Minerals? Spices? Oak?
Now swirl the wine around in the glass – this infuses air into the wine, and causes the wine to release more aroma. Inhale the wine’s aroma again. Resist taking a sip for a moment, and consider - what do you smell?
Wine experts describe the wine’s aroma in these terms:
Fruit – red fruits for red wines, white fruits for white wines
Floral – lily, orange blossom, violet
Vegetable – asparagus, olive, green pepper
Spices – cinnamon, cloves, saffron, black pepper
Earth – green grass, chalk, flint, minerals
Grains and Nuts – almond, hazelnut, biscuit, toasted bread
Barrel – vanilla, oak, toast
Where do the scents come from? The smell of fruit comes directly from the grapes, while the more organic aromas, like wood or vanilla, come from the barrels in which the wine was aged. The more complex scents develop in the bottle – due to the chemical changes that occur.
The mouth.
Finally, you’re ready to taste the wine. Take a small sip – about one-third of an ounce. You want the sip to be large enough to work it around your mouth, but not so large that it will force you to swallow right away. Roll the liquid around your mouth to let all your taste buds help detect the subtle flavors.
What’s your first impression?
As you swirl the liquid around in your mouth, draw in some air into your mouth too. Consider the body of the wine, and its texture in your mouth.
Is it light? Smooth? Rich?
If the body of the wine resembles water in your mouth, you can consider it light bodied. If it feels more like milk, consider it full-bodied.
After you’ve swallowed the wine, notice the aftertaste – the finish. How long does the aftertaste last? What flavor does the wine leave you with?
Now that you’ve tasted the wine, you’ve formed some impressions. Take a moment to make a note of the wine, the wine producer and the vintage (year). Then add your impressions and give yourself some indicator of whether you would buy the wine again. As you taste more and more wines, you’ll find your tasting notebook a handy reference guide.
Finally, it’s time to ‘cleanse the palate’ and prepare for the next taste. Unsalted crackers or plain French bread are excellent choices, along with a sip or two of water.
If you are tasting several wines, be sure to rinse the wine glass between tastings.