Learning to Taste Wine
Wine educators often get the question, “how can I learn to taste wine.” In most cases the person asking is interested in developing the skill to evaluate what is in a wine glass and how wines differ. I quality and taste. For multiple reasons, over time this type of wine tasting has become somewhat intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. After all, wine is meant for enjoyment and developing tasting abilities should be approachable and fun!
Learning to taste wine in a structured way has multiple benefits. It helps you define what and what not you like about wines – so picking a future wine is much easier. It also allows you to describe wines to others in a way that is understandable and hits the liquid’s key characteristics. All these skills lead you to develop greater confidence either as a wine professional or a consumer.
The first step in learning to taste wine is to do what professionals do and create a simple system that breaks down the key elements of a glass: Appearance, Smell or “Nose,” and Taste or “Palate.” The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) calls this its systematic approach to tasting and it is part of every WSET course. Let’s take a closer look at each element.
Appearance
What does the wine look like in the glass? Is it lemon or gold color or is it ruby red, pink or brick color? How intense is the color and does the wine leave residue dripping down the side of the glass when you swirl it? By creating a little more description beyond Red, White or Rosé we can start to consider how the wine was made, the grape varieties used and even the potential age. Appearance gives clues to what the wine may be, but to find out exactly we need to go further and look at the nose and palate.
Nose
What does the wine smell like? Is it overly fruity and perfumed or might it be savory and smokey? How strong are the aromas and what might you call what you are smelling – apple, grape, cherry, smoke, etc.? It is helpful to have a list of potential aromas and flavors. WSET has its own lexicon of characteristics that I like to call, in a good way, a “cheat sheet” in that it gets you started in thinking about what you smell. You can also find aroma lists online.
Palate
When you take a sip of the wine and roll it around your mouth does it have any noticeable sweetness, or does it seem unsweetened or “dry?” Is your mouth watering under your tongue and if so by how much? For red wines is it smooth or textural and does that texture create a drying effect on your cheeks? What about the weight of the wine in your mouth – is it light, heavy or somewhere in between (this is the wine’s body)? Now again, think about the flavors you taste as you did with the aromas you smelled. Ask yourself what flavors stand out and how long do I continue to taste them after the wine has left my mouth – this is called the “finish” or “length” of the wine.
You can learn to taste on you own just by following my questions above, but it is much more fun (although sometimes a bit intimidating) and comprehensive to learn and improve tasting technique in a more formal class where a teacher can lead you and you can compare notes. Every WSET course we offer – even the online ones – has a tasting component. Our teachers are there to help you build confidence. There are no wrong answers – just a discussion that is geared to steer you in the right direction. The skills you learn grow with each new wine you taste and contribute to your overall life enjoyment.