If you’ve been invited to a wine tasting party or traveled through any of the wine areas of the world it can be a fun and a challenge to distinguish one nectar of the grape from another.  For a wine tasting beginner it certainly would be a benefit to know some of the rituals involved, taking the mystery away so you can enjoy these pleasurable times. A few timely tips can help!

When the red wines or white wines are served to you it will be in a clear glass so you can examine the rich color and clarity.   Also, when you are offered the wine it should be picked up by the stem to avoid heating the wine from your hand.  The label on the wine bottles or the bottle itself should not be your wine guide when you buy wine, as only in tasting can know your preference.

You will see some of the more experienced wine tasters swirl their wine around their clear glass. This action will actually release the flavor in the wine as it has been bottled up for a long period of time.

After swirling the wine to release the flavor, and seeing the rich color, smell the wine. Now you can smell the wine as it plays such an important part of enjoying the experience.  Our sense of smell is so much more sensitive than our sense of taste.  The scent of the wine will start our imagination going, “is that a fruity smell” or “I think I smell citrus”.  You will have to learn to think with your nose.

Take a sip, breath in a little air through the mouth and slowly swallow.  You will get an air of the aroma of the wine, and a lingering blend of taste and smell to complete your wine experience. Your tongue has taste buds at the front and back which will detect those flavors as you swallow.  Wine has many flavors and by enjoying the tasting of wines from all around the world you will soon know which your favorites are.

In between, the wine tasting samplings you may be offered crackers and cheese or water to clean your month getting you ready for the next wine being served.  By attending wine tastings you soon will have favorites and be able to taste and smell the flavors and blends and have a better understanding of the process. Wine shops have so many wines from all around the world, with so many to taste and enjoy, so raise a glass.