Wine Tasting -- The Traditional Way

Wine tasting is properly known as 'Wine Degustation'. It is the art of being able to note the various differences between difference types of wine, and even the various differences between the vintages of the same type of wine.

There are basically two parts to Wine Tasting, first is 'What are we looking for' the second is 'How are we looking'. We'll start with the How, and move on to the What.

Traditionally the seven steps to sampling wine are: see, sniff, swirl, smell sip, swish, and spit. This is the process we see tasters going through at the table and in wineries.

The first thing we want to do is see that the color of the wine is good. Put some light behind the glass and look for clarity. Fogginess is a sign we probably want to be careful with. Rusty colors in a white wine are another sign that we probably don't want to put it in our mouths.

That might seem a bit crass but let's keep in mind what we are looking at here. The act of Wine Degustation didn't get its start at high society dinner tables as a way to see what was good with lamb, and what is better with beef. Wine Degustation came into being as a method of deciding what was safe to drink and what might be poisonous due to bad storage or aging processes. While today these tasting methods are less defensive, since modern methods of wine making produce safer wines, some wines you may get to embrace were bottled 100 years ago, or even 200.

Some red wines are so dark you will be lucky to see anything through them, but we still want to take a look. Some of the more obvious signs we want to look for are brown, muddy, orange or other non-winelike colors. It is not uncommon to see bits of cork floating in a glass of wine, just try to make sure that it is cork.

After our eyes are satisfied, we try our nose. Recall that taste is more or less an olfactory sense. With practice we can tell a great deal about a wine from its perfume. A good whiff at the very least will give you an impression, or preview of what to expect from the wine when we taste it. The obvious impressions to look out for are: does it smell like wine? Is the overall fragrance fresh or foul? Anything strange about it?

Our next step, the swirl, enhances our ability to evaluate the first two steps once more. The swirl is to get some of the wine onto the surface of the inside of the glass. Wines are generally not oily or syrupy. The liquid should slide off the side in an expected manner. Also with the wine spread out on the surface, it should be easier to get a better sample of the fragrance it presents. Which is what we do now, but this time we inhale it slowly. No quick sniffs. We bring the fragrance into our nose with a smooth steady inhale, letting our mind go through the stages of the bouquet with a more examining course.

If our nose is still interested then we move on to taking a small sip. Just enough to get a taste on our tongue. You will notice here a bit more of the cautionary tactics in the wine tasting steps, but there is a bit more benefit really than just making sure that we didn't miss something painful in the previous steps before we commit to a good mouthful. Taking in just a taste allows our mouth to get a quick preview and some expectations. There is also the fact that many concoctions, not just wine, taste a bit different when taken in small sips rather than mouthfuls.

So we are still interested, and by this time we are sure whether or not we want to commit to a real taste, so we take in a mouthful. Not only do we take it in, we swish it around like it was mouthwash, letting the liquid coat every part of our mouths and gums. Allowing the wine to be heated up by our body temperature. Some tasters even gargle a bit with the wine, because our taste buds are everywhere in our mouths.

The last step is spit or swallow. Not much to say about that, but it is a choice to be sure. If this is the only wine or one of two or three you are going to be tasting tonight, swallowing might be an appropriate option. But if you are at a winery and going through 6 or 7 wines, spitting is probably your best option. Otherwise every wine is going to start tasting "swell" and you might as well just have a few glasses rather than try to go through the steps.

What are we really looking for through all of this? There are many aspects of wine, and each vintage and type has its nuances. There are some over all basics though we can start out with.

Oakiness - Some wines have a 'oak' flavor. There really isn't another way to describe it. You have to taste it, but once you do you can pick it out. The flavor is generlly from either from the Aging barrel or oak chips

Sweetness - The process of some wines allows a greater amount of the natural sugars from the grapes (Or fruit) to remain without being processes into alcohol. So a sweetness, and sometimes a fruity taste remains from the amount of residual sugar

Tannin - A wine stressing tannins would be described most of the time as dry. Tannin is the bitterness from seed and skin of the grape and is effected by carbonic maceration and Maceration

Above all, the real test is Did you like it. Your tastes are just as valid as anyone else's and life is too short for wine you don't like. Enjoy.

Jerry Powell is the Owner of a Popular site Know as Gourmet911.com. As you can see from our name, we are here in the business to help you learn more about different kinds of Gourmet Food and Wines, from all around the world. http://www.gourmet911.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Who Made the First Wine Anyway?

Although details are understandably sketchy, it is believed that, around... Read More

The Mystery of Decanting

Decanting is a strange word to many people. Some do... Read More

Alchoholism, A Major Diesease?

Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all... Read More

A Private Owners Guide to Bottling Fine Whisky

The majority of private owners of whisky casks are looking... Read More

Buying Wine, How to Read a Wine Label and Select a Great Bottle of Wine

I must admit, that for many of us, walking into... Read More

Wine, Wine, Wine

What in the world is up!Was there a full moon... Read More

Bordeaux Wine

Bordeaux is a region in France that produces some of... Read More

The Ten Most Important Wine Label Terms

For the average wine consumer, there is a plethora of... Read More

How Sparkling Wine is Made

There are three methods that may be used to make... Read More

Gewurztraminer Wine

Gewurztraminer is an excellent and unique grape variety that is... Read More

The Curious History Of Wine Consumption In America

The history of wine consumption in America has been frought... Read More

The Stuff of Poetry ? Mead

People have been drinking fermented beverages since the dawn of... Read More

Burgundy Wine

Burgundy red wines are produced in an area of France... Read More

Choosing that Perfect Wine for a Dinner Party

So, you find yourself having been invited to a dinner... Read More

Guide To Tasting Wine

The basics of tasting wine are relatively simple to learn.... Read More

The Origin of the Cocktail

The cocktail has the distinction of being an original American... Read More

Australian Wines

Australia's wine industry has boomed in the past ten years.... Read More

Counting Carbs With Wine

The recent health claims that wines have antioxidants... Read More

Explore the U.S. Wine Trails

Follow a Local Wine Trail to Discover the Secrets of... Read More

Pairing Food and Wine is a Matter of Taste

First off let me say that I am in no... Read More

How to Order Wine in a Restaurant

Ordering wine in a restaurant is not much different than... Read More

Whisky Syndicates

Whisky syndicates are groups of private owners and many have... Read More

Chardonnay Wine

Chardonnay is the world's most popular white wine grape. Chardonnay... Read More

Wine Etiquette With Ease

Correct wine etiquette makes the tasting experience much more enjoyable.... Read More

An Introduction to Wine

What is wine?Wine has been made for centuries from just... Read More

Merlot Wine

Merlot wine is a rich, soft wine with the flavor... Read More

Food - Wine Pairing Tips For French and Italian Wines

Many people are intimidated by the task of selecting wine... Read More

Enjoy Your Favorite Wine - But With Some Rules

The mere mention of etiquette brings to mind various images,... Read More

Tempranillo?s Role As A New Varietal Wine In Australia

Tempranillo is the premium red wine grape variety from the... Read More

Wine Making and Home Brewing: Whats the Deal?

When it comes to making alcoholic beverages at home, wine... Read More

DWI and Blood Alcohol Concentration: What does it mean?

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the relationship between the amount... Read More

The Harmony Between Food and Wine

Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in... Read More

Sauvignon Blanc Wine

Sauvignon Blanc wine is crisp, high in acidity and light-... Read More