Then sniffing starts. The nose knows the scents rising from the beverage but the brain may not. It takes time and training to decipher and identify smells, but trust your free-flowing thoughts. If you detect Mom’s butter biscuits or your sweaty socks, then so be it. Take an aroma road trip and free think. That’s how the pros started. No one wakes up one day with a depthless essence lexicon so don’t be intimidated. But there exist some shortcuts to teach your nose — should you be so inclined — like using a wine sensory kit, but frequent tasting will train you, too. And, unlike boot camp, it’s the kind of training you want to do.
### Follow us

Exploring the menu of life.

# How to taste wine like a pro

 Wine tasting brings all senses to the forefront, except maybe the ears. But I’ve begun salivating at the pop of a Champagne cork so I’m thinking they might count, too. To truly assess or analyze a wine, professionals must factor out all other external noise — dog barking, food wafts, a woman’s scurrilous perfume — and focus all their senses on the liquid in their glass. But analyzing wine isn’t as self-important or daunting as pedantic wine snobs want you to think. You simply need to engage your senses.

Begin with your eyes. Sure, it’s pretty obvious that a wine is white, red or rosé, but did you know color reveals the age as well? Whites actually gain color after only a few years, oxidizing like an apple to a delicious, golden tint. But, over time, reds lose their purple, burgundy-ness as the pigment degenerates to black, sludgy sediment. The color transforms into a warm, rusted brown that appears where the wine kisses the edge of the glass. Then you swirl it, not necessarily to smell or aerate, but to observe its viscosity. In mega-alcoholic or sweet wines, the liquid forms “tears” or “legs” after it’s spun and the slower the droplets flow down the sides, the richer and fuller bodied the wine will taste.

Then sniffing starts. The nose knows the scents rising from the beverage but the brain may not. It takes time and training to decipher and identify smells, but trust your free-flowing thoughts. If you detect Mom’s butter biscuits or your sweaty socks, then so be it. Take an aroma road trip and free think. That’s how the pros started. No one wakes up one day with a depthless essence lexicon so don’t be intimidated. But there exist some shortcuts to teach your nose — should you be so inclined — like using a wine sensory kit, but frequent tasting will train you, too. And, unlike boot camp, it’s the kind of training you want to do.

Swish. We’ve all seen people who gargle wine with alacrity unbecoming of a human. This behavior isn’t just for show. It’s one way to assess the wine’s body. If it’s Marilyn Monroe, it’s heavier-bodied like cream. If Twiggy, then it’s light-bodied like skim milk. But the main reason for swishing is to evaluate the wine’s structure. You need to flood all areas of the tongue and mouth — the roof (and the finish) assesses astringent tannins; the sides of the tongue and cheeks sense acidity; and the front of the tongue signals sweetness. As the wine flows over these gustatory areas, they help the brain form an opinion and a complete flavor profile. (Read more about swishing and swirling wine)

And finally, the best part: the swallow. After all the work you’ve done for the last 30 seconds, a harmonious, lasting finish can be a welcome work of art. Creating a wine with a beautiful, seductive ending takes years of winemaking practice. If you’re left with a sensation of fruit and possibly some vanilla tannins, the winemaker has scored, but you’re the winner.

SHARING IS CARING

### Related posts:

### Search 15 years of food/drink archives

### 2 Comments

1. 

Ginger Watters

I think you have the perfect tag line now:

I taste the crap so you don’t have to.

I LOVE IT!

2. 

Sandy Cagle Montgomery

I’ve tasted a few over-hyped pinot noirs too — and indeed some are thin and listless. I like the Tip It suggestions — and the skip it are fun too — at least we know what to not try.

### Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *

Message

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Name*

Email Address*

Website

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Δ

### Follow Me

### About Taylor



Taylor is a self-proclaimed Southern foodie, turned Californian food, wine, and gardening hipster.

### Sign Up for My Newsletter

Recommended recipes, wines and healthy tips delivered to your inbox. I don't post super often so no spam, spam, spam. Join my journey!

Email Address*

zip*

\* = required field

### Taylor on Instagram

### Righteous Recipes

### Search for something delicious

### Follow All My Socials

### Taylor on Instagram

### The Cellar



### Search 15 years of food & drink archives

Search 15 years of food & drink archivesSelect Month January 2021  October 2020  September 2020  August 2020  July 2020  June 2020  May 2020  March 2020  February 2020  January 2020  November 2019  September 2019  August 2019  June 2019  May 2019  April 2019  February 2019  January 2019  December 2018  July 2018  January 2018  December 2017  September 2017  August 2017  June 2017  April 2017  March 2017  February 2017  January 2017  October 2016  September 2016  August 2016  July 2016  June 2016  May 2016  April 2016  March 2016  February 2016  January 2016  December 2015  November 2015  October 2015  September 2015  July 2015  June 2015  May 2015  April 2015  March 2015  February 2015  January 2015  December 2014  November 2014  October 2014  September 2014  August 2014  July 2014  June 2014  May 2014  April 2014  March 2014  February 2014  January 2014  December 2013  November 2013  October 2013  September 2013  August 2013  July 2013  June 2013  May 2013  April 2013  March 2013  February 2013  January 2013  December 2012  November 2012  October 2012  September 2012  August 2012  July 2012  June 2012  May 2012  April 2012  March 2012  February 2012  January 2012  December 2011  November 2011  October 2011  September 2011  August 2011  July 2011  June 2011  May 2011  April 2011  March 2011  February 2011  January 2011  December 2010  November 2010  October 2010  September 2010  August 2010  July 2010  June 2010  May 2010  April 2010  March 2010  February 2010  January 2010  December 2009  November 2009  October 2009  September 2009  August 2009  July 2009  June 2009  May 2009  April 2009  March 2009  February 2009  January 2009  December 2008  November 2008  October 2008  September 2008  August 2008  July 2008  June 2008  May 2008  April 2008  March 2008  February 2008  January 2008  December 2007  November 2007  October 2007  September 2007  August 2007  July 2007  June 2007  May 2007  April 2007  March 2007  February 2007  January 2007  December 2006  November 2006  October 2006  September 2006  August 2006  July 2006  June 2006  May 2006  April 2006  March 2006  February 2006  January 2006  December 2005  November 2005  October 2005  September 2005  July 2005  June 2005  May 2005  April 2005  March 2005  February 2005  January 2005  December 2004  November 2004  October 2004  September 2004  August 2004  July 2004  June 2004  May 2004  April 2004  March 2004  February 2004  January 2004  December 2003  November 2003  October 2003  September 2003  August 2003  July 2003  June 2003  May 2003  April 2003  March 2003  February 2003  January 2003  December 2002  November 2002  October 2002  September 2002  August 2002  June 2002  May 2002  April 2002  February 2002  October 2001  August 2001

Copyright © 2024 TaylorEason.com— Designed by WPZOOM