How to Be a Wine Taster
Wine tasting is the methodology of assessing the quality and craftsmanship of wine. Its formal practice was established in the 14th century and includes four stages that are best understood as observation of appearance, in-glass assessment of color and aroma, sensations in your mouth and the finish. Know the basics of tasting wine before taking steps to be a real wine taster. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Choose an appropriate wine glass. At the very least, the glass needs to be plain and clear. Most wine drinkers agree that different types of wine require different types of glasses. Preferred glasses for champagne and sparkling wines are flutes. Ideal red wine glasses have large bowls. Model white wine glasses are similar to red wine glasses but with a smaller bowl.
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Pour between 1/4 and 2 ounces of wine into the glass. Observe the color and hue. Study the wine's opacity. Older red wines are more translucent than younger red wines. Tilt your glass and swirl it. Pay close attention to color, brilliance and clarity.
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3
Swirl the glass again to release the wine's aroma or bouquet. Smell from the top of the glass to obtain an initial impression. After your first impression is formed, lower your nose into the glass and inhale deeply. Consider what you smell. Do you smell berries, vanilla, herbs or oak? A wine's aroma is an indication of its quality and uniqueness. Swirl the glass gently and smell it again.
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4
Taste a small amount of the wine. Allow it to roll over your tongue. After you gain an initial impression, allow a small amount of air to pass through your lips and "swirl" with the wine in your mouth.
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Swallow the wine and assess its "finish." The finish is how long the flavor lingers after it is swallowed. Assess its body. A light-bodied wine is like water, whereas a heavily-bodied wine is more dense.
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Take some classes. There are courses through the internationally recognized Wine & Spirit Educational Trust that teach you how to better understand wines and how to develop your tasting skills. Choose to achieve their Level 2 Intermediate Certificate with basic skills or work your way to their ultimate Level 4 Diploma.
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Become a sommelier. Restaurants, clubs and hotels all have people who manage the business's wine selection, oversee their wine purchasing, receiving, storage, sales and service. That person is a sommelier. Although no formal training is legally required for this position, there are courses offered at culinary schools, post-secondary schools or even the internationally recognized Court of Master Sommeliers. Being a sommelier broadens your knowledge of wines and makes you a better wine taster.
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Join an organization or a club for wine tasting in your area. Even with all the classes in the world, you still need to get out there and start tasting wines. Get involved with local wine tasting groups and hone your tasting skills. Get to know the people in the world of wine. As you become a better wine taster, get involved in local and national events. Before you know it you will be judging and scoring wines for events and magazines.
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