For whatever reason, a lot of men mistakenly view wine as a “girly” drink and are generally not interested in the idea of going wine tasting or sampling different types of wine. However, the truth is that various kinds of wines, including both red and white, have been found to offer great health benefits to men and women alike. For this reason, if you have not yet gotten into the world of wine tasting, now would be a good time to give it a try–if not for your health, then to have something fun to do with your lady, or perhaps even for the simple fact that wine tastes good!
However, if you are new to wine tasting, then you are probably wondering where to begin. After all, it would be a bit embarrassing to show up to a wine tasting event and not have any idea of how to properly taste wine. Some people do not realize that there is a specific technique to this, and it can be a daunting thing to realize when you are first starting off as a wine taster. However, by keeping a few simple tips and tricks in mind, you will be well on your way to enjoying your wine tasting experiences in no time, all while looking sophisticated.
It is important to remember that wine is a multi-sensory experience, despite the fact that it is called “wine tasting”. In any successful tasting, you will use not only your taste buds, but many of your other senses as well: sight and scent, for example.
When you taste a glass of wine for the first time, the first thing that you should always do is to take some time to examine the color of the wine. This will help you get an idea of what it might taste like. For example, dark red wines are typically more bitter or spicy. On the other hand, a white or tinted wine is more likely going to be sweet.
Once you have analyzed the color of the wine, the next thing that you are going to want to do is to enjoy the scent of the wine. You should do this by simply bringing the glass to your nose and inhaling. You may smell anything from a cheese-like smell or a fruity smell, to the smell of spices. By analyzing the scent of a wine, you can also get a good idea of what it might taste like. However, the best way to get the full aroma is to slightly swirl the wine around in your glass, as the air moving around can bring out smells that you didn’t notice before.
Next comes the actual tasting of the wine–finally! At this point, you should slurp a very small amount from the glass and over your tongue. Savor it for a moment and compare the taste of it to the sights and smells that you just previously enjoyed. Consider the smoothness of the wine and think about other things you may have tasted before that it compares to.
When it comes to swallowing the wine, this is obviously another part of the experience. However, if you plan on sampling many wines in a short amount of time, it is best to spit it back out. Ultimately, though, the decision is up to you entirely.
Overall, wine tasting can be a lot of fun and can open up your eyes to a world you did not know much about before. So be sure to keep the above tips in mind for the first time you go wine tasting and enjoy!