5 Simple Steps for Beginners to Taste Wine Flavours

For beginners, tasting wine may seem complicated. However, by following these five simple steps, you can enjoy wine like a professional sommelier! Whether for casual drinking or special occasions, mastering these tasting techniques will help you better appreciate each wine's unique charm.

The 5-Step Tasting Method: From Appearance to Finish

1. Look

Start by examining the wine. Tilt your glass at 45 degrees against a white background in natural light, observing: 
●    Clarity - clear or hazy 
●    Colour intensity
●    Rim colour variation
These visual clues help you identify the grape variety, age and alcohol content.

2. Swirl

Gently swirl while observing the wine's viscosity (how much it clings to the glass). Higher alcohol wines show more "tears". Swirling also aerates the wine, releasing more aromas.

3. Smell

High-quality wines present complex aromas. Smell twice: First, smell without swirling to catch the most volatile notes; second, smell after swirling to detect layered aromas.

Beginners can simply categorize scents (floral, fruity, spicy, etc.) rather than identifying specifics.

4. Sip

Take about 15ml, letting it coat your entire tongue: 
●    Sweetness on the tip
●    Acidity on the sides
●    Tannins on gums/palate
You can try "chewing" the wine, mixing it with air for fuller flavour perception.

5. Swallow/Spit

In professional tastings, spitting wine out can avoid intoxication. For casual drinking, swallow after a few seconds to appreciate the finish. 

Keep in mind that mouth temperature influences flavour perception, and quality wines often have longer, pleasant aftertastes.

Create Your Tasting Notes

You can write down your Tasting Notes after tasting, including your feelings, comments on the wine, etc. Building a tasting profile can greatly improve your tasting ability. You can also refer to your comments when buying wine in the future!

Tasting Note could include:
●    Wine name
●    Grape variety
●    Winemaker
●    Vintage
●    Region
●    Aromas
●    Palate
●    Finish
●    Tasting date

Remember, wine tasting is subjective. Your ability to discern flavours will improve with experience!