Did you know, more than 4 billion bottles of wine are drunk by Americans every year? This favorite beverage, drunk the world over, is a go-to for many people during evenings out, or while unwinding at home.
But do you know how to taste wine? If you are partial to a glass of shiraz or chardonnay, you might have dabbled in wine tasting events. These are a great way to get to know new types of wine and they’re also a wonderful social activity.
Keep reading to find out our top wine tasting tips for newbies who want to get the most out of this experience.
1. Use Your Senses
Perhaps the most important of our wine tasting techniques is to make sure you use more than just your tastebuds when wine tasting. You may feel silly, but the first step is to swirl your glass which allows oxygen to enter the liquid.
You can then inhale the aromatic scents through your nose, and get your first impression of how the wine will taste.
2. Take a Tour
Many wine tasting events take place in a restaurant, bar, or facility at a vineyard. However, it’s also possible to take part in wine tasting while strolling around the vineyards on a tour!
Wineries such as www.dvinetours.com.au/, www.kunde.com/, and lot-on-tours.com/ all offer interesting tours in scenic locations.
3. Don’t Pour Too Much
Our next tip is to make sure you don’t pour too large a glass of wine. The purpose of a wine tasting event is to be able to sample several different grapes and wines that come from different years and regions.
You won’t be able to make the most of this if you consume too much of the product!
4. Take Notes
An essential pointer for those wondering how to taste wine for beginners is to take notes. No one expects you to memorize all the information you’re taking in!
Make sure to make a note of your favorite wines, in case you want to buy a few bottles at the end of the evening.
5. Cleanse Your Palate
After trying glass after glass, the tastes of the different wines can begin to merge on your tastebuds. It’s important to take a palate cleanser in between each sample.
This could be a sip of water or some neutral-tasting food such as bread.
6. Use the Spittoon
All wine tasting events will provide you with a spittoon, and for good reason! The point of wine tasting is to appreciate the different flavors, and this isn’t possible if the wine starts to go to your head.
Make good use of the spittoon in order to keep a clear head, and remember to have a designated driver.
7. Talk to the Winemakers
Our final piece of advice when wine tasting is to talk to the winemakers. They know their product better than anyone, so benefit from this knowledge!
Why not ask what their personal favorite bottle is, or which is their best-seller.
Those Are Our Top Wine Tasting Tips
We’ve now covered all the tips you need to know when wine tasting for beginners. The most important thing, however, is to make the most of this special event, relax, and enjoy yourself. Bottoms up!
If you found this article about wine tasting tips useful, make sure you check out our other lifestyle posts!
