As much as we all love to hold a glass of wine and sip it with utmost pleasure, some of us don’t know what we are looking for when it comes to the wine’s flavour.


We sure have read and heard a lot of how to swirl the wine in your glass, smell it and then take a sip. Swirl it in your mouth again and then claim to like it.

But what exactly was responsible in the whole process to that brought out the flavour? Is it the aroma? Or is it the taste? Or is it both of those things together?

To do away with this confusion, let’s find out the correct way to enjoy wine:

1. The taste

The aroma of the wine plays a major role in bringing out the right flavour. Stereoisomers, to be specific are the aroma compounds that are released into the wine during its fermentation period. That is why, while smelling the wine, compounds lighter than air enter your nose determining the flavour.humans are known to be able to identify 4 main flavours of wine i.e. sweetness, acidity, bitterness and sapidity.

2. The tangible sensations

In some cases, people also like to slurp in wine. This method allows some air to enter the mouth and is a good way to move the wine around the palate connecting it with the retronasal passages. This step is important because smells are known to be closely linked to taste. However, even without the slurping, the wine is bound to rebound with your palate every time you take a sip. 4 major kinds of sensations can be felt while slurping on wine:
  • Astringent sensation
  • Thermic sensation
  • Pungent sensation
  • Pseudo-caloric sensation

3. Avoid reading reviews before-hand

Reading the reviews of the wine that you are going to taste might influence your experience and taste buds. It is advised to choose a flavour that is new and might suit your preference. This will help you to put forward an honest review when you share your notes with others.

4. Remember to take small sips

While your mouth can taste 5 different kinds of tastes, your nose can smell more than 500 kinds of scents. Taking small sips will allow the wine compounds present in the air to get in through your nose simultaneously. This will not only allow the air to filter through the wine at the back of your nose but will also help you detect the taste better. Take a few sips before you make up your mind on the flavour.

5. Keep major flavour descriptors in mind

Feeling the taste but not getting the right word to express it is something that happens to people all the time while tasting wine; even to professionals. It is best advised to keep all the major flavours of the red and white wine in mind. As you move on to the 3rd or 4th sip, you will be close to identifying the tone of the flavour correctly.

6. Key flavours in Red and White wine

To be able to identify flavours, it takes some time and practice, honestly. Although there are countless flavours involved in a ‘good’ wine, you can always start by identifying the basic taste. However, here are some key flavours that you can keep in mind about the red and white wine.
White wine: The maturation of the grapes plays a key role in the taste of white wine. If the grapes are fresh, the taste will be close to that of grass or vegetables and if the grapes have matured properly, the taste will be on the fruitier side.
Red wine: Mainly inclusive of fruity flavours, red wine has more flavours. Mostly identified flavours are roses, berries and violets. The wine tastes toasted when it matures and the young wine delivers flowery flavour.

Bottomline

To grab more knowledge about it, it is advised to read more notes by people in the same field. This will not only give you a better understanding but will also enhance your complete wine tasting experience! Happy drinking!