Wine Tasting Basics

The whole point of tasting wine is to find the wines that you like; there is no right or wrong wine, only what your tastebuds enjoy. However, there are ways to enhance your ability to sample wines ... here are a few. 

• Always use a clear glass, preferably one that has a rim that bends inward so the aroma goes to the nose
• Pour a little wine in the glass (and inch or so).
• Swirl the wine a couple in the glass. Swirling aerates the wine and release vapors for you to smell.
• Put your nose right over the rim of the glass and inhale. Take special note of the wine's smell.
• Have a sip and let the wine slowly go across the tongue; front to back and side to side.
• If you are tasting several wines, always start with the lightest wine and progress to the most full-bodied. This will help you get the most flavor from each wine. (Have a sip of water between wines to help preserve your palate.)
• Swallow. Take note of the flavor, acidity and how the wine feels.
  A Note on swallowing: If you are at a wine tasting or in a winery, your host will generally provide you something to spit your wine out into instead of swallowing. This is customary in these settings.