How To Smell Wine When Wine Tasting

Smelling wine is an important step in the wine tasting process as it can greatly influence our perception of taste and overall enjoyment of the wine. The sense of smell is closely tied to taste, and a wine’s aroma can greatly affect how it tastes to us. When smelling wine, it is important to take your time and pay attention to the different scents that are present.

First, give the wine a visual inspection to note its color and clarity. The color of a wine can provide some indication of its age and grape variety. For example, a younger red wine will have a more vibrant, purple color, while an older red wine will have a more brick-like color. The clarity of a wine can also provide some indication of its quality. A wine that is clear and free of sediment is generally considered to be of higher quality.

Next, gently swirl the wine in the glass to release the aromas. Swirling the wine helps to aerate it and bring out the full range of scents. As you swirl, pay attention to the legs, or the droplets that form on the inside of the glass. The legs can provide some indication of the wine’s alcohol content and viscosity.

Once you have swirled the wine, place your nose in the glass and take a deep sniff. As you inhale, try to identify the different scents that are present. Some common aromas in red wine include dark fruit, such as black cherry and plum, as well as spices like pepper and tobacco. White wine often has fruit aromas such as apple and citrus, as well as floral and mineral notes.

It’s also important to pay attention to any negative aromas. If a wine has a musty or moldy smell, it may indicate that the wine is corked and should not be consumed. A wine that has a metallic smell may indicate that the wine has been in contact with a metal cork or screw cap.

Repeat the process several times to fully experience the wine’s bouquet. As you continue to smell the wine, you may notice new scents that you didn’t pick up on during your first sniff. Also, you can compare the wine with other wines you know to better understand its characteristics.

It’s important to remember that smelling wine is a subjective experience and that different people may pick up on different scents. However, with practice, you will be able to identify more and more scents, and become more proficient in evaluating the wine’s quality.

In conclusion, smelling wine is an important step in the wine tasting process as it can greatly influence our perception of taste and overall enjoyment of the wine. A wine’s aroma can greatly affect how it tastes to us, and with practice, you will be able to identify more and more scents and become more proficient in evaluating the wine’s quality.