How to Attend a Wine Tasting Event

Love trying new wine? Do you want to learn how to distinguish flavors in a wine? Attend a wine tasting. They’re lots of fun and chock-full of information. Plus, you get to try wines you may never have had the opportunity (or budget) to try otherwise.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Seek out a wine-tasting event. If you live in an area near wine vineyards, they may host regular tastings. If you’re not in wine country, a local wine boutique might be putting on such an event. Phone them to ask and sign up for any newsletters they offer.
2. Gather a few (or lots of) friends to join you. Sure, you could go alone or with only one other person, but these events are even more fun with a group of people. It will be a social occasion and you’ll be able to hear various opinions on each wine.
3. Buy your tickets early. Wine tasting is becoming more and more popular, and these events have a tendency to sell out early. Have one person in your group purchase tickets for the whole group to ensure there’s enough seating for everyone. The others will then reimburse the buyer for their tickets.
4. Eat something before the wine tasting so you don’t get too tipsy—but don’t overeat, as there may be cheeses or hors-d’oeuvres served to complement the wines. You’ll want to partake in these snacks in order to understand how certain wines can complement certain foods.
5. Take a pen and paper. Though these may be provided for you, you don’t want to take the chance of being unable to take notes. You’ll want to jot down key points about each wine so you’ll remember them later.
6. Show up a few minutes early. Find a good table up at the front so you can hear what the host is saying about each wine. In some cases a table or seats may already have been reserved for you or your party, but if it's rush seating you’ll want to get to the head of the class by sitting in the front.
7. Listen carefully to what the host is saying. It may be tempting to chat with friends or look around, but if you’re there to learn you’ll want to keep an ear open for new wine pointers. Take notes on anything that is new or interesting to you.
8. Use all your senses once the wine begins flowing. First, look at the wine. What color is it? If it’s a red, is it translucent or opaque? Swirl the wine around gently in your glass. Does it coat the glass and run down? This is called the “legs” of the wine. Tip the glass sideways at a slight angle and look closely at the surface of the wine. Is there a somewhat “clear” layer sitting on the surface? How thick is it? Experienced wine connoisseurs can often tell the alcohol content of a wine by this clear layer. If you’re not an expert … take a guess! Write down all your observations on the wine and then write notes on what the host tells you about the wine. It’s fun to compare later and this is a great learning tool.
9. Use your nose next. Swirl the wine in the glass again to open up the bouquet. Bring the glass to your nose and inhale deeply. What scents do you pick up? Is it fruity? Or is there an oaky smell? Anything that comes to mind should be written down in your notes on this wine. Don’t worry about being wrong—this is how you learn. Again, take notes on the actual bouquet that the host describes but remember that everyone experiences wine differently, so don’t assume your impressions are wrong.
10. Move on to tasting, the next (and most fun) step. Take a good-sized sip (but not a gulp) and hold it in your mouth for a second or two to let the flavors rest on your taste buds. Now swallow it and note the flavors in the order that they hit you. What is the main flavor? Is it light or heavy? Is it plummy or spicy? Is there a different end note (the flavor you taste last)? Is it bitter like grapefruit peel? Is there a taste you can't quite put your finger on? Don’t worry if you can’t distinguish each flavor—that takes time and practice. If something does jump out at you, write it down. If you get it wrong, you’ll learn what that flavor is so you’ll recognize it the next time you taste it.
11. Take notes and discuss your opinions with others at your table. You’ll also want to note down the wine’s vintage (year it was made), aging parameters (whether it should be enjoyed right away or shelved for a few years) and any other special serving notes the host shares. Make sure to note whether you liked the wine or not! Who cares if you can’t tell plums from cherries or oak from pepper at this point. It only matters whether you like the wine so you know if you’d like to buy it yourself.
12. Another factor to consider is the price point. Many times inexperienced wine tasters will assume that an expensive bottle of wine must be better than a cheaper bottle. This is not always the case. While you are likely to get a better-quality wine in the $15 to $20 range and up, don’t assume that a $100 bottle of wine is going to taste better than a $40 or $50 bottle (trust me). Note whether you think the wine is worth the price, as this will factor into your decision of whether to buy it for yourself.
13. Continue tasting different wines that are served. If cheeses or other foods are served with the wines, do try them together. You’d be amazed at how different a wine will taste when paired with a peppery or spicy cheese.
14. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when the wine-tasting event is over (or during if there’s an opportunity). Just remember—no matter how experienced other wine lovers are, they all had to start out learning sometime.
15. Buy at least one bottle of a wine that you liked when the event is over. This is a great way to start your wine collection, as the guesswork has been taken out of the equation. You already know you like the wine so you’ll have a bottle on hand to enjoy later.
16. Keep the notes you took during the event. They will help you choose wine in the future. Make a second short list of the wines you liked (including the vintage, since the taste can change from one year to the next) and keep it handy in your purse or wallet, so you can refer to it next time you're in a wine-buying mood.

Tips & Warnings

• Note the region of the wines you like. You may find you’re partial to Australian wines or Chilean wines. Knowing which regions you prefer will help you choose wines in the future.
• You’ll be consuming alcohol so arrange for a safe way home. Don’t drink and drive!