getting into wine tasting, what are some of the basics I need to know so I don't look like a complete fool?

Answer 1

1. When wine tasting the first step is to take time to look at the wine, especially around the edges. Look for the color of the wine and the clarity. This is why clear glasses should be used for tasting wine.
White wines become darker as they age while red wines begin to lose their color, turning more brownish.

2. Swirl the wine in your glass. This is done to mix oxygen in with the wine, which will soften the tannins of young wine. It also opens up the flavors and aromas of the wine.

3. Sniff the wine. Initially you should hold the glass a few inches from your nose. Then let your nose go into the glass. What do you smell?

4. Take a sip of the wine, but do not swallow yet. Roll the wine around in your mouth exposing it to all of your taste buds. Do this for at least a few seconds while thinking about the tastes of the wine.

5. Swallow the wine. How long does the "finish" last?(How long can you taste the wine after you swallow?) Do you like the tastes?

Tasting wine is suppose to be fun. Don't stress about doing everything exactly right. Don't worry if your tastes are different than people around you. Everyone has their own tastes.


The exciting thing about sampling different wines is discovering exactly what your own tastes are.

Answer 2

If you're going to a party or wine tasting event and don't have a lot of time to study up...make sure that you inspect the color first, swish the wine around in your glass...inspect the "legs" or the effect of the wine trickling down the inside of the glass after you swirl it. This will also help to aerate the wine and release the "bouquet". Then hold your nose over the glass and inhale. This is the tricky part. If you don't know what you're smelling and tasting, perhaps you should say nothing, but just look appreciative, or horrified, as the case may be. Make certain you hold the glass by the stem and not by the bell part. Don't swig the whole lot back in one gulp...look dignified. Many wine tasters don't even finish the tiny thimble full of wine that they have. You will also be expected to rinse your glass thoroughly between tastings and cleanse your palate with some water. If you want to look really expert, spit the water out in the spitoon thingy next to the booth. Can you detect floral or vanilla notes in wine? Berries? If so, feel free to say so. Tannins leave that sensation on your tongue like tea. I personall enjoy a healthy tannin taste. If you have some time, read up on it. Lots of online articles out there. Good luck.

Answer 3

i am not going to give you some fluffy answer with what wine to taste, or what you should be trying. my advice would be the following:

1) try everything whatever it is, white, red, blush, sweet, dry etc. that is the only way you will know what you like. when you were a kid, that was how you figure out if like coca cola or 7-up. up taste it. If you don't like it you move on.

2) when in a tasting room situation, or really anywhere, it is OK to just sip the wine and spit it out. I learned this once at a big fancy wine event in san francisco, and one of the winemaker's there that I had been chatting with, said that it is OK to spit the wine out. They won't be offended.

3) ask questions. whether it is a waiter in a restaurant, a merchant at a wine shop or a winemaker, ask questions. What do they like, what flavors should you be looking for, what would they recommend havng with whatver meal you are having.

At the end of the day your opinion is the only one that matters.

Answer 4

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Remember one thing - everyone who is a wine expert started at the exact same place you are at now. The only difference between you and them is that they started at a different time than you did. Also, experts will never know everything there is to know about wine because each winery and each year will be different than the last one.

The other thing I can recommend is, out there in the regular world, outside of wine tastings, smell and taste as many different things as possible. Just to give you a real odd ball example, I was at Ravenswood Winery a few months ago where I had their Gewurztraminer, which is a very floral white wine. After swirling the wine in my glass, I took a sniff of it and than turned to my friends I was tasting with and said, "That's my Body Wash". Kind of odd to hear that, isn't it? Well, my body wash at the time was vanilla and figs and those were the two predominant aromas coming out from that glass. You know the saying "take time to smell the roses" - follow that advice. When it comes to identifying tastes and smells, trying as much as possible is your biggest asset to identifying what is in your glass. Eventually, you will become as good as those wine experts at identifying what you are having.

Also, DON'T WEAR PERFUME OR COLOGNE. Strong scents will always throw off your sense of smell as well as those around you. That is basically it but remember - ask questions. Everyone started at the same place you are at now - it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Answer 5

While I agree with other writers saying that it is OK to ask questions and not be afraid of looking like a fool, I still think a bit of homework and preparation would help.

Wine is an art that has a high learning curve. It takes years of drinking, experimenting, and reading to know more about wine. So, don't expect anyone to be a wine expert unless they have been drinking/making/studying wines for 10-20 years. The worst are those who pretend to be a wine expert when they only knows superficial. I am still learning about wine even with my extensive collection and reading as well as traveling, and every time I drink, I still have more questions than I have answers.

However, getting some home work done before going to the wine tasting would be helpful. You should know a bit about the following:
1) type of wine - white or red or champagne, specific grape, area whre it's from, etc. Do a llittle research on the characteristic to look for for different wines.
2) brand of wine - sometimes a tasting may consist of wines from the same vineyards/wineries, so knowing what their lines of product, the prices, etc, would be helpful.
3) setting of wine tasting - is it at someone's home or is it at a restaurant? If it is at a restaurant, how are they pairing the wine with the food? That would be good to learn about wine tasting.
4) who's - who's going to be there? If you have a few friends who are into wines, maybe you can hangout with them and learn from them. Again, don't be afraid of asking questions, but if you do your homework, you will be able to ask the more intelligent questions.
5) take a pen and paper and write down the wines that you drank and what you like/dislike about them. That is one way to learn about wine.
6) as for the swirling, smelling, tasting, etc, don't pretend you know how to do it unless you really know what to do. Practice before hand if you want to, but there is nothing worse than spilling wine all over other people at a wine tasting. As for someone who knows to help you with that. If someone who truely loves wine and not being snobbish about it, they will help guide you.

If you have time, go to the bookstore and get either "Wine for Dummies" or "Idiot's Guide to Wines". Two great quick reads to get you up-to-date on the essentials of wine.

Lastly, enjoy. Don't go into it with fear and concern. Have a good time and enjoy the experience.

Answer 6

Hi and I agree with the other answers...BUT the most important thing is to NEVER drink the wine immediately after it's poured into your glass...first swirl it (this helps the wine breath, and to release its "bouquet" or smell)...after you swirl it look at the sides of the glass to see how how much of the "film" is on the glass...this indicates the "body" of the wine....the thicker the film, the heavier the body...then you smell...and here there is no real secret...you just use your imagination and see what scents you pick up....flowery? spicy? sweet? fruity? green?...there are almost no wrong words...it depends on what YOU personally think.....after a while, you will start to pick out certain recurring scents....then you taste and you go thru the same thing....there are two parts to the taste...the initial taste, when you first drink it...and then the "finish", which is what you taste after you have swallowed the wine....just pay attention, and you will learn very quickly...and practice, practice, practice!! Oh and most important...if you are tasting several wines at a time...remember to rinse both your glass and you palate....and have fun!

Answer 7

When I go tasting either to the specific wineries or to a fest, like the one that was held this weekend in upstate NY(Finger Lakes), do the whole breathe thing and look for sediments but one thing I feel compelled to add and maybe it's not an issue to others but PICK A COLOR- either go with red or white, you can alter sweet or dry without to much difficulty.Your local library should have some wine books and also check out a few sites online but most importantly-experience will be your number one teacher. Have fun! Salute'!

Answer 8

Don't be afraid of looking like a fool, just be honest that you haven't done it before, they will show you the ropes.

Answer 9

Watch the movie "sideways"

Answer 10

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