Wine Tasting 101

In the interest of exploring the bottom of some of my favorite glasses I thought I'd do a quick runthrough of how to "properly" taste wine.

Now before I start, let me say this. I am not a great wine taster. I'm not one of those people who can rattle off all sorts of obscure flavor profiles and talk about how it hits a part of the tongue that you've never even heard of. I just haven't had that much practice (sad, I know). I say this because I don't want you to feel intimidated by trying this out. It's going to take some time to be able to really get all of the flavors and smells, so just relax, take a drink, and enjoy.

Flavor aside, there are a few characteristics to look at. First is sweetness. Wines range from very sweet to very dry. Some try to pull wool over your eyes by being dry but very fruity and acidic (so it may seem sweet at first), but don't be fooled. Next up are tannins. These are also found in coffee and tea, and are the things that make you feel like someone put some sort of glue between your teeth and cheeks. The heavier the tannin level, the more your teeth will drag. Acids in wine are pretty easy to spot. These make your mouth water (particularly under your tongue) so just watch how much saliva is forming to get a feel for how acidic the wine is.

Different wines also have different bodies. Some sit lightly on the tongue (almost water-like) while others are heavier (imagine if you took a shot of heavy cream). Also pay attention to the intensity of the flavors. Some will be very pronounced, others will be much lighter.

It seems like a lot... and it kind of is. But it can be fun to have a go at it. If it helps, try to focus on a different aspect with each taste. No rush, and no worries. Afterall, you can always pour a second glass if you need a little extra to figure it out.