Wine Tasting 101

Back to Wine School Series

Hey Vintnerds, welcome back to our final Back to Wine School issues. Today we are tackling the most important topic of all: tasting wine. 

We are also excited to introduce Shop Vintnerd, our Etsy storefront. Check out our downloadable Wine Tasting Placemats! For a limited time, get them 50% off with the code NEWSLETTER.

How To Taste Wine

First a note, tasting wine is not necessarily the same as drinking wine. Tasting is a bit more methodical and the point is to not just drink it, but learn about it. These steps are the most helpful before the first sip or two, once you’ve started to drink the wine will overwhelm your palette and then your only distinctions will really be yum or yuck.

Sometimes, even we aren’t in the mood to taste. But as you practice these steps, they’ll become easier and soon this can be a quick process before tucking into your carefree glass. 

See

Look at the wine. Note the color beyond the obvious (red). Is it more ruby red or maroon? Or even purple? Is it lightly or intensely colored? Is it clear, bubbly, or hazy? Can you see the stem of the glass through the wine? 

Swirl

Gently swirl the wine in the glass, this helps release scents and makes you look like you really know what you’re doing.

Sniff

Did you know humans can identify as many scents as dogs? So yes, at first you will probably just smell alcohol and wine. But take another sniff, and look at your vocabulary. Does it smell citrusy? Fruity? Or maybe more earthy? Is it a delicate smell or a strong smell? Based on what you’re smelling, what do you think it will taste like? Since smell and taste are so connected, this will also help you enjoy the flavors more. 

Sip

Finally, drink that wine! Note what flavors you can taste, are they similar to what you smelt (sometimes they’re not!)? Is it heavy or light in your mouth? Does your mouth feel tingly or dry? Does any element stick out or overwhelm the wine? How long do the flavors linger?

Tasting Vocab

There is a certain wine language used to describe the aromas and notes of wines. These descriptors are metaphorical-there are not actually flavors added to the wines-and can be super subjective. They also don’t have to be the same, some wines smell and taste dramatically different. When describing wine you can name a category (this smells like red fruit) or be more specific (this smells like strawberries). 

White Wines

• Citrus: grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange

  • Also, is it the peel, zest, or juice

• Green fruit: apple, pear, gooseberry 

• Stone fruit: peach, apricot, nectarine

• Tropical Fruit: melon, pineapple, lychee, mango, banana

Rosé, Orange, & Red Wines

• Red Fruit: redcurrant, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, red cherry, red plum

• Black fruit: blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, black plum

All Wines

• Florals: honeysuckle, blossom, rose, violet

• Dried/Cooked fruit: fig, prune, raisin, fruit pie, jammy

• Herbaceous: green bell pepper, grass, asparagus, leaves

• Herbal: eucalyptus, mint, dill, dried herbs

• Minerality: wet rocks, earth

• Yeast: bread, toast, pastry, bread dough

• Dairy: butter, cream

• Oak: pepper, licorice, cedar, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, campfire, nuts, coffee, chocolate, earthy, leather, tobacco

Why it matters: Learning the notes of a wine you like will help you predict if you’ll like a wine in the future. White wines that are described with mostly citrus and green fruit are going to be more tart, white wines that include stone and tropical fruits are going to be fruitier. If a red wine has a lot of descriptions of spice or vanilla, you know it was aged in oak. If a red wine uses descriptors like baked fruit you know the fruit flavors are very ripe, while herbal notes often means it's less ripe. So even if you truly can’t smell or taste any of this, learning the notes will help you decipher wine labels and try new wines you will like. 

Want to practice taste like a pro? Teach your friends? Host a wine party? Try our downloadable Wine Tasting Placemats! For a limited time, get them 50% off with the code NEWSLETTER.

---

This is our final Back to Wine School issue this year. In the incoming weeks we will have our seasonal Fall Wines & Foods issue and the return of Boos & Booze! It’s the perfect time to refer a friend; for every 5 people who sign up with your referral you will get a free month of premium content. Don’t miss out!