How to Taste Wine

If you don’t have very much expertise in winery, the option of trying new wines is always on the table. Maybe you haven’t found ‘your’ wine yet. No need to fret. You can find wine tasting events online and make your way through the variety.
 
Once you’ve booked your wine tasting, or even if you’re trying a few at a wine store, there are a few things to remember.
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Here are four steps to try wine the right way:
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Look

Swirl

Smell

Taste
Look at the wine and inspect it against a white background. Analyse its clarity and colour. Red wines should vary from deep purple to brick red. White wines should range between lemon gold and golden amber. ​​What is the colour telling you? What are you expecting?
Swirl the wine in the glass. This allows the wine to aerate. Some wines may be too dry, so swirling it draws oxygen into the wine. This will also entice the wine for the next step.
Smelling the wine is another part of the tasting experience. Getting your nose in the glass and inhaling deeply helps depict the wine’s age and what to expect of the taste. Older wines should have a much more subtle aroma than younger ones. ​
Lastly, taste the wine by sipping it. Allow it to swish a little then eventually swallow. This is the best part where you can really taste all the flavours and the descriptors of the wine. Ask yourself, was it what you expected?
The trick is to approach the tasting slowly. Don’t rush but give the wine time to speak to you.
 
There are many tips you can find about the perfect way to taste wine, what you should watch out for, and the little things you might not be aware of. A great venue to try wine tasting is the Southbank Centre, which hosts various events throughout the year.

Below you can find a video on a few further tips and information about wine tasting and what to look for.