Don't think tasting is for a few privileged palates. Everyone who enjoys a glass of wine can taste wine
'properly.' All it takes is a little extra concentration and a few pointers on what to look for. Here are
simple guidelines on how to gain maximum pleasure from every mouthful!
Appearance
Hold your glass, just a third full, at an angle of about 45° against a white surface and look at the
color at the rim and at the center.
A young red will have a pinkish-purple rim, an old wine a tawny-brown edge. A light-bodied red will be less deep in color than a fuller-bodied one.
Crisp, light whites will be pale straw in hue, older, richer or sweeter whites are more golden. Generally, white wines gain color with age, while red wines lose it.
Aroma
The bouquet of a wine is even more important than its taste - as more than half of its flavor is contained
in its volatile aromas. Draw a couple of imaginary circles with your glass on a flat surface to swirl the
wine around. Then sniff. Your first impression will always be the strongest; after that your nose will
gradually tire.
Taste
Then take a good sip — taking in enough wine to bathe the whole of your mouth. Notice its initial
taste (its attack), what flavors develop next (its middle palate) and its finish.
How long do the flavors last? Is it a young tannic wine with enough fruit to age — or a smooth, fruity red for drinking now? Are the rich flavors of a white wine balanced by enough acidity, or is the acidity of a fresh white balanced by sufficient fruit?
Hints
Most of your tasting will occur as part of your everyday drinking; you will hopefully just notice more
of the flavors in your glass. However, for a more formal tasting: