The Five S’s of Wine Tasting

Start by observing the wine’s color. If it’s a red wine, is the color maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red or even brownish? If it’s a white wine, is it clear, straw-like, golden, light green, pale yellow or brown in appearance? These can be clues to the varietal and age.

You can learn a variety of things, such as age, type of grapes used and flavor concentration, just by studying the wine’s color. Wines made in cooler climates, for instance, usually have a lighter color than wines grown in warmer areas; and older red wines are generally more translucent than their younger siblings.

Tilt your glass a bit. Give it a little swirl.
The swirling action helps aerate the wine, producing an oxidizing effect that
helps enhance the wine's flavor and
natural aroma.

Your sense of smell is critical in properly analyzing a glass of wine. To get a good impression of your wine’s aroma, gently swirl your glass (enhancing the wine’s natural aromas) and then take a
quick whiff to gain a first impression.

Now stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose. What are your second impressions? Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine’s aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics.

Finally, take a sip and taste. Let the wine roll around your tongue. Although it is natural to sip your wine, slurping it will continue to oxidize the liquid, allowing you to taste the flavors more fully.

After gathering your initial impression of the wine, allow a small breath of air in through your lips and let the wine mingle with the air. This will allow you to taste flavors more fully. Reds will often have berry, woody and bell pepper tastes. White wines will often have apple, floral or citrus flavors associated with them.

A wine’s “finish” is also a component of the taste. This is how long the flavor lasts after it is swallowed. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like water) or more full-bodied (thicker and rich)?

As you swish the wine through your mouth, your taste buds will note the presence of fruit, acidity, and alcohol. If tannins are present, your cheeks will feel an astringent puckering sensation, as is often the case with red wine.

The tip of your tongue will detect the wine's degree of sweetness, something your nose cannot do. Check for a balance of all the tastes you sense. Now swallow and savor the taste. The longer the taste stays in your mouth after swallowing, the higher the quality of the wine. Above all, enjoy!