Swirl the wine around the glass to release the aromas, then stick your nose into the glass and take a steady, gentle sniff. Register the smell in terms that mean something to you: if it reminds you of herbs, spices, strawberries, wet wool or tar, that is what makes the wine memorable.
Monday, November 9, 2009
LOOK AT THE WINE
Pour the wine into a glass so that it is about one-third full. Tilt the glass against a white background so that you can see the gradations of colour from the rim to the centre. The colour can begin to suggest the taste of the wine, with clues to grape variety, climate and age. A young red wine may have a deep purple tinge, an older one will be lighter, sometimes brick red. A very pale white will be young, fresh or neutral-tasting, a deeper yellow one will be fuller in flavour, sweeter or older (not always a good thing in white wines)
READ THE LABEL
This tells you a great deal about the wine: its region of origin, age, alcohol level, sometimes its grape variety. The design - traditional or modern - can hint at the intentions of the winemaker. At a blind tasting, you will begin at the next step.
HOW TO TASTE WINE
Tasting wine means understanding what you are drinking - and enjoying it more. The ritual observed by professionals is not just showing off: there is a purpose to every stage, and it can help you to get maximum pleasure from a bottle of wine. Wine can be complex stuff, and if you just knock it back you could be missing out on a wonderful sensory experience. Instead, take a few moments to discover a little about a wine's background, appreciate its colour, and savour its scents and range of flavours.
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