September 20, 2023
Wine Tasting for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Sip Like a Pro
The four S's
- Swirl — introduces oxygen and releases the aroma
- Sniff — identify the scents to understand character and quality
- Sip — let the wine spread across your palate
- Savor — a longer aftertaste generally suggests higher quality
Reading the wine
Wines carry primary flavors (fruit-forward), secondary flavors (from winemaking) and tertiary flavors (from aging in oak). “Body” refers to weight — light to full — roughly comparable to the difference between skim and whole milk.
A few more tips
- To spit or not: professionals spit at formal tastings to taste more wines responsibly; casual tastings don't require it
- Explore different regions and grape varieties — Pinot Noir tastes different from California than from New Zealand
- Take notes over time to spot patterns in what you actually like
- Trust your own palate — everyone's is a little different
