| Wine tasting is both an art and a science. Cynics | | | | background such as a white tablecloth or a piece |
| out there do not understand that tasting and | | | | of white paper. Observe the darkness or paleness |
| drinking wine are two different things. It is much | | | | of the wine, depending on whether it is a white |
| more complex than other beverages. There is | | | | wine or a red wine. Observe any color fadeness |
| more going on in a mouthful of wine as opposed | | | | from the center of the wine out toward the |
| to say, a glass of milk. One reason for this is that | | | | edge, where it touches the glass. Wines for the |
| most have a lot of different, yet subtle flavors all | | | | most part are clear but sometimes you may |
| at the same time which give you multiple | | | | observe if the wine is cloudy, clear or brilliant. |
| sensations when they are in your mouth, such as | | | | After looking at the wine, take a medium-sized sip |
| softness and sharpness together. | | | | of it, holding it in your mouth. Once in your mouth, |
| When drinking something like soda, you may just | | | | purse your lips, and draw in some air across the |
| gulp it down. But with wine, if it is swallowed | | | | your tongue, over the wine. Swish the wine |
| quickly, you miss a lot of the different tastes and | | | | around in your mouth as if you are chewing it and |
| textures that wine provides. The fundamental | | | | then swallow it. When swishing the wine in your |
| rules that apply to wine tasting are to slow down | | | | mouth, it gives your brain some time to register |
| and pay attention. However, the first two steps | | | | the sensation sweetness, acidity, and bitterness all |
| don't actually involve tasting it. You first look at it | | | | simultaneously. This will allow you to determine |
| and then you smell it. | | | | whether the wine is heavy, light, smooth, rough, |
| When smelling wine, it is important to stick your | | | | and so on. |
| nose in the airspace of the glass where the | | | | These basic fundamentals when it comes to wine |
| aromas are captured. It is important not to where | | | | tasting will allow you to determine if the wine that |
| perfume or cologne as this will compete with the | | | | you had just tasted is one that you enjoyed. |
| smell of wine. There are different techniques | | | | Wine with all its complex vocabulary, in layman's |
| when it comes to sniffing. Some enjoy taking | | | | terms is good if you like it enough to drink it. |
| short, quick sniffs, while others like to inhale a | | | | After that, there are some specific sets of values |
| deep whiff of the wine's smell. Even keeping your | | | | to rate the wine's quality or value such as balance, |
| mouth open slightly will help enhance the smells of | | | | length, depth, complexity and trueness to type. |
| the wine. | | | | Despite the complexities that come along with |
| When observing a wine's appearance, it is a good | | | | wine tasting, mainly it is important to enjoy the |
| idea to tilt a half-full glass away from you and | | | | activity of wine tasting, if not the wine itself. |
| look at the color of the wine against a white | | | | |