WINE GUIDES · WOUTER PARENT
How to taste wine: a practical guide
Start with a clean glass and a small pour. You do not need a huge vocabulary to enjoy wine. A useful observation is one you can recognise again, whether that is fresh apple, a drying sensation or simply a wine you would happily order another glass of.
Look before you swirl
Tilt the glass against a white background. Notice the colour and how deep it is. Colour can offer clues about grape variety, age and winemaking, but it cannot establish quality on its own. Legs running down the glass are not a score for how good the wine is.
Give the aromas a moment
Smell the wine gently, then swirl and try again. Begin with broad groups: fruit, flowers, herbs, spice, oak or earthy notes. Pick two or three aromas rather than trying to name everything. An aroma wheel can help you find the word for something familiar.
Take a small sip
Notice acidity, sweetness, tannin, alcohol and body. Acidity makes your mouth water; tannin creates a drying feeling, especially around your gums. Think about how these elements work together. Does anything dominate? How long does the flavour last after swallowing or spitting?
Write something useful
Record the wine, vintage, date and a few words about its smell, flavour and structure. Add whether you liked it and what you would serve with it. If it smells persistently musty or tastes unusually flat, read our guide to cork taint and other wine faults.
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Try it around the table
Join a guided wine tasting or keep exploring at your own pace.
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