Anyone can taste wine and while it is a subjective experience, there is a simple and understandable discipline that can help you appreciate it more fully. Here are three key elements to consider when tasting wine:
The Colour
The Aroma
The Taste
1. The Colour
Start by examining the colour of the wine. Pour a small amount into a glass and hold it against a white background, such as a piece of paper. Look carefully at the colour, clarity, and intensity. The hue can give you clues about the wine's age and grape variety. Younger white wines tend to be pale, while older whites may have a deeper golden hue. Similarly, younger reds are often more vibrant, whereas older reds can exhibit a more brick-like colour.
2. The Aroma
Swirl the wine gently in your glass, which should be filled to about a fifth of its capacity. This action helps release the wine's aromas. Take a deep sniff and note your first impressions—they are often the most accurate. Try to identify specific aromas, such as floral, citrus, or red fruit. Refer to guides like the WSET aroma wheel to help categorize what you smell and then assess the intensity of the aroma: is it light, medium, or pronounced?
3. The Taste
Take a generous sip and allow the wine to reach all parts of your mouth. First impressions here are crucial as well. Be mindful that higher alcohol levels can sometimes dull your senses. When tasting, focus on three aspects:
Taste: Identify whether the wine is sweet, sour, tannic or bitter.
Texture: This is often referred to as the wine's body. Is it light, medium or full-bodied?
Length: How long does the taste linger in your mouth?
Flavours often mirror the aromas you detected earlier. Try to distinguish between primary flavours (grape-driven), secondary flavours (from the winemaking process, such as yeast or bready notes) and tertiary flavours (developed from aging, like vanilla from wood aging).
Check out this great video on how to taste wine by BetterBookTV!
Want to learn more about wine? Check out our new blog on How to Describe Wine
Opmerkingen