How to Sip Wine Like A Connoisseur

Learning the art of appreciating fine wine is something that everyone should learn by the time they’re 22. The fact is that while guzzling a glass is perfectly acceptable, if you want to impress people and just enjoy being part of high society, you need to know how to appreciate wine. Thankfully, it doesn’t take too much to learn. Here’s how you can sip wine like a connoisseur.

Examine The Wine’s Color

You can tell a lot from a wine’s color, including what flavors you should expect to taste. White wines tend to be lighter and fruitier than reds. Reds often are meaty, earthy, and savory. Wines that are older will often have a deeper color at the bottom of the glass than at the top. So, right off the bat, you can tell what flavors to expect and whether the wine is old.

Ask About The Wine’s Details

The type of grapes used are what differentiates wines. Varietals are wines that are made with a single type of grape. For example, Merlots are made with Merlot grapes while Chardonnay wines are made with chardonnay grapes. On the opposite end of the spectrum are wine blends. Blends are wines made with multiple kinds of grape – and include examples such as Chiantis and Bordeaux blends. It’s also good to know that there are dry wines and sweet wines. Sweet wines include dessert wines like Port.

It’s worth mentioning that you should be careful with anything labeled “champagne”. Remember, it’s not actually champagne unless it was made in the Champagne region of France. All other “champagnes” should be labeled as sparkling wines.

Pour The Wine

Red wines do not need to be chilled. However, white and sparkling wines do. Place your white or sparkling wine on ice prior to pouring if it is not yet chilled. You should only pour until the glass is half full.

Swirl The Wine, Then Smell It

Swirl the wine gently before you sniff it. This allows your wine’s flavors to release into the air, and also can “brighten” the flavors. Take note of the different scents you smell in the wine’s aroma. Different wines will have different notes. Some might smell a little more like blueberries, others may smell like grass, and still more might have a surprisingly floral scent. If it smells vinegary or corked, it’s not a good batch of wine.

Now, Taste The Wine

Slowly, sip the wine. Hold it in your mouth for a bit, just so that you can savor all the different little nuances of the flavor. Much like with the wine’s scent, you’ll notice that every single bottle has a slightly different flavor palate.

Swallow Or Spit

If you’re at a wine tasting with a large number of wines, you will probably see a bucket available for your use. The bucket is available for you to spit out the wine after your tasting. You should steer clear of getting wasted at an upscale tasting to avoid looking gauche.

On the other hand, if you’re just sharing a couple bottles with friends, swallowing is the best route to go. After all, what good is wine if you’re not enjoying it.