HOW TO PROPERLY TASTE WINE?

For experts, wine tasting is a special ritual that requires specific prior knowledge and the ability to discern quality with almost all senses. However, for those less familiar with the magical world of wine, tasting often presents an uncomfortable situation where they are unsure how to proceed or what to look for.

To ensure your experience is complete and to simultaneously create the impression of a knowledgeable wine connoisseur, these tips will undoubtedly prove beneficial.

• Observe the wine – the color and clarity of the wine depend on its age, the grape variety from which it was produced, alcohol and sugar levels, acidity, and other details. Older wines, therefore, have darker yellow or brown hues that blend with the base color, and red wines usually become more transparent.
• Tilt the glass – if you gently tilt the glass to the side and then return it to its original position, you will get an impression of the wine’s alcohol content. The so-called ‘tears’ that run down the side of the glass can be longer, indicating a higher alcohol level, or shorter, suggesting a lower alcohol percentage.
• Smell the wine – wine typically has three basic groups of aromas: primary (fruity, herbaceous, floral) which come from the grapes; secondary, which come from fermentation and yeast; and tertiary, which develop during aging, oxidation, and maturation in wooden barrels (walnut and vanilla). If you bring the glass to your nose, you will certainly be able to recognize at least two groups of aromas.
• Swirl the glass – a wine glass should always be held by the stem. Swirling it will help you more easily perceive the aromas in the wine as they become more intense. You can do this in your hand or on a table surface.
• Finally, taste – when tasting the wine, try to focus on two characteristics: taste and structure. The wine’s structure depends on its type, sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and, for red wines, the tannin level.

Above all, it is important that you enjoy the entire process, and you can always keep your impressions to yourself. Quality wines will generally impress your senses, some will be moderately pleasant, and with lesser quality wines, you will simply feel that something is not right. Even if you cannot define the exact characteristics, do not worry; simply enjoy the moment, and with time, you will become more precise in describing your impressions.