2025 Feb. 1

Learn how to taste wine in 3 steps

The Art of Wine Tasting: Savor Every Sip Like a Pro

Wine Tasting Art

 

Drinking wine is great, but knowing how to truly savor is a whole new level of enjoyment! Wine is a beverage filled with complex and subtle aromas, and tasting it properly allows you to appreciate its full potential. But don’t worry, wine tasting isn’t just for the experts. Anyone can learn how to enjoy the nuances of wine. All you need is to follow a few key steps and trust your senses: Sight, smell, and of course, taste. (Spoiler alert: Hearing and touch won’t be of much help here!)

So, pour yourself a glass, and let’s dive into the art of wine tasting!

 

Getting Started: Choosing Your Glass

Before learning how to taste wine in three key steps, make sure you have chosen the right glass and poured your wine (for a detailed guide, check out our article “The Different Types of Wine Glasses and How to Use Them”). To keep it simple: A stemmed glass is a must, as holding the bowl of the glass warms the wine too quickly. Always hold the glass by the stem for the best experience. Once your glass is ready, it’s time to begin!

1) the look

This step reveals a lot about the wine. Pay attention to its “robe” (that is the fancy term for the wine’s color, you are practically an expert already!). Here’s what you can discover:

  • ⁠  ⁠Age: The color and intensity of the wine can hint at its maturity. A wine’s appearance evolves as it ages. For example, red wines start with hues ranging from violet to deep purple and shift toward brick or brown tones over time. White wines, on the other hand, are nearly transparent when young and develop more orange or golden shades with age. An orangish tint in white wines can also indicate sweetness. However, some grape varieties can be misleading and exhibit different characteristics.

  • ⁠  ⁠Alcohol: The wine’s “tears” (those transparent drops running down the inside of the glass) tell us about its alcohol and sugar content. After swirling your glass, observe the tears. Thick, slow-moving tears often indicate a wine with higher alcohol and sugar levels, while thinner, faster tears suggest a lighter style.

  • ⁠  ⁠Clarity: Just like the difference between the waters of Brittany and the French Riviera, some wines are clearer than others. Clarity is often associated with quality, but there’s room for interpretation, so don’t panic if an older red wine appears cloudy at first glance. A high-quality wine is typically clear and free from suspended particles. However, certain types of wines, such as natural or unfiltered wines, may intentionally appear cloudy without compromising their quality. Similarly, sediment in older red wines isn’t a flaw but a natural sign of aging.
Wine Tasting Look

2) the smell

The second step is all about discovering the wine’s aromas. This involves two distinct phases:

  • ⁠  ⁠The First Nose: Start by smelling the wine without swirling it. This initial impression reveals the wine’s primary aromas and helps identify any flaws, like cork taint or oxidation.
  • ⁠  ⁠The Second Nose: If the first smell doesn’t reveal much, don’t worry, that is what the second nose is for. Gently swirl the wine to air it out. This step often reveals the grape variety or “cépage” used to make the wine. If you are struggling to identify specific aromas, try narrowing them down: does it smell fruity, floral, herbal, or spicy?

3) the taste

 

If you have fought the urge to take a sip so far, now is your moment! Tasting involves three key stages:

  • ⁠⁠The Attack: As the wine enters your mouth, you will notice a range of sensations, such as acidity, sweetness, saltiness, or bitterness. Balance is key here, a well-balanced wine will have its acidity, sweetness, tannins, and other elements in harmony.
  • ⁠⁠The Mid-Palate: Take a second sip and let the wine coat your mouth as if you were chewing it. This helps you identify the dominant flavors and textures.

  • ⁠The Finish: Assess the wine’s “length,” or how long the flavors linger in your mouth. High-quality wines have a long finish. At this point, you can decide whether to swallow or spit, depending on your plans for the night!
Wine tasting taste

Ready to Practice?

Now that you are a wine-tasting pro in theory, why not put your knowledge into practice? Check out the tasting experiences we offer in Champagne, the Loire Valley, and Sancerre. Cheers!

 

Anastasia

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