Buzz
Drinking wine goes beyond just taking a sip; it requires skill. While there are thousands of different types of wines, understanding a few key aspects such as taste, finesse, and strength can help you choose the perfect wine for yourself and maximize its benefits.
Steps
Tasting the Wine
Seek Recommendations. If you're new to wine, it's a good idea to visit a specialty wine shop and ask for guidance on which wine would suit your preferences. If there isn't a wine specialty store nearby, you can also check out regular liquor stores or supermarkets, where you'll find a variety of wines to choose from.
- Explain your taste preferences to the wine expert or store staff so they can recommend the best wine for you.
- If you plan to pair the wine with a meal, be sure to mention the dishes so they can help you choose the right wine for the occasion.
Choosing Wine. It's important to understand the characteristics you're looking for in a wine, as there are many varieties. Do you prefer a bold or light taste? The flavor corresponds to the weight of the wine as you taste it. Do you enjoy dry or sweet wines? In wine terminology, dry is the opposite of sweet. Do you like your wine full-bodied or smooth? Wines with acidity are considered more tart, while smoother wines are referred to as easy-drinking wines.
- The most popular red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
- Try white wines. Popular white wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Pour about 30-60 ml of wine into the glass to taste before filling it up. Typically, you can taste a few sips before finishing the whole glass. Tasting the wine properly helps you decide if you enjoy its overall flavor.
Samuel Bogue
Director and Wine Industry Consultant
Director and Wine Industry Consultant
You can taste more than one glass. Sam Bogue, a wine-tasting expert, says, "If you're at a restaurant or somewhere with an open bottle of wine, feel free to ask for a taste. After all, they just want to help you find a wine you enjoy."
Experience the Aroma. Swirl the wine in the glass to expose a larger surface area. This allows the wine to interact more with the air, enhancing its aroma. Swirl the wine by holding the base or stem of the glass. Smell the fragrance while swirling the glass. Common aromas include fruity, spicy, herbal, and floral notes.
- Smell the wine a few times, swirling before each sniff. Complex wines have a range of aromas, and smelling each one individually will enhance the wine's flavor.
- The overall taste of the wine is a combination of its aroma and taste, so don’t skip the smelling step.
Tasting the Wine. Taste it in small sips. Swirl the wine around your mouth by gently drawing it in. Hold the wine in your mouth for 5-10 seconds before swallowing to fully savor its flavors. After swallowing, pay attention to the lingering aftertaste. High-quality wines typically have a distinct finish, with the flavor staying on your palate for a while.
Drinking Wine
Sip the Wine. Wine tastes best when savored in small sips rather than gulping it down. Take small sips and hold the wine on the front of your tongue before swallowing. This allows you to experience the full spectrum of flavors.
- Red wines are known for their bold flavors and are best enjoyed by sipping slowly. You can pair them with dinner or dessert, or enjoy them alone. Drink red wine slowly to truly appreciate its flavor. Swirl the wine before each sip to help it breathe and oxidize.
- White wines can be enjoyed on their own or paired with various foods and desserts. They tend to be lighter and fresher than red wines, making them perfect for balancing out bold flavors. With each sip of white wine, allow the flavors to linger on your palate before swallowing.
Pair Wine with the Right Food. Consider several factors when pairing wine with food, and the easiest approach is to think about balance. For example, sparkling wines pair well with salty or fried foods. The carbonation and acidity help cleanse the palate, removing the saltiness with each sip.
- Choose smooth white wines to accompany dishes like fatty fish or creamy sauces. For instance, Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with fish like salmon or seafood in a wine-based sauce.
- Rosé wines go well with rich, fatty foods. Some cheeses pair better with white wines, while others are suited for red wines. However, most cheeses complement the crisp acidity of rosé and its fruity character.
- Red wines like Cabernet and Bordeaux are perfect with red meats such as grilled meat and ribs. They help refresh your palate after each bite of meat.
- For desserts, opt for a wine that is sweeter or as sweet as the dessert itself. For example, combine dark chocolate with a sweet red wine like Zinfandel harvested late in the season.
- Explore wine and food pairings to find the best match for each type of wine.
Switch Wines. When enjoying wine, it's common to sample both red and white wines. You should transition from light, sweet wines to more full-bodied, dry wines. If you're trying both red and white, start with the white wine before moving to the red. If you’re drinking red wine with dinner, you should have Chardonnay with the meal and reserve the red wine for after the meal. Additionally, sweet red wines can be paired with desserts.
Preparing the Wine
Opening the Wine. Wine bottles come in various types, most commonly with a cork or screw cap. The screw cap is easier to open, much like a regular bottle, while the cork requires a bit more effort.
- If you're dealing with a corked wine bottle, you will need a corkscrew to open it. Start by removing the metal capsule from the bottle's neck. Then, twist the corkscrew into the cork halfway, and gently lift the cork out using the handle of the corkscrew.
- If you don't have a corkscrew, you can use a Sommelier's knife or even a shoe to help open the bottle.
Prepare Wine at the Right Temperature. To fully experience the flavors of wine, it should be served at an ideal temperature. Red wine should be stored near room temperature, while white wine is best kept chilled.
- Most red wines taste their best at temperatures between 13-18°C, slightly cooler than room temperature. To achieve this, chill your red wine in an ice bucket or refrigerator for about 10 minutes before serving.
- White wines are best enjoyed at temperatures between 5-8°C. Therefore, store your white wine in the refrigerator. Take it out about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to reach the perfect drinking temperature.
Use the Right Glassware. White wine glasses tend to be smaller than red wine glasses because white wine doesn’t require as much aeration as red wine. For white wine, opt for a glass with a smaller bowl and narrower rim to preserve the aromas and ensure the flavors linger longer. Red wines need more exposure to air to enhance their flavors, which is why red wine glasses are typically larger. The larger bowl allows the wine to interact more with the air, intensifying its aroma as it rises.
- When drinking wine, always hold the glass by the stem, not the bowl, to prevent warming the wine too quickly with your hand.
Pour the Wine into the Glass. There are slight differences when pouring red and white wines. You should pour the appropriate amount to fully appreciate the wine's taste.
- For red wine, bring the bottle near the glass and gently pour it, filling the glass halfway (about 120 ml). To stop the pour, twist the bottle upwards to avoid spills and drips.
- For white wine, wrap a napkin around the neck of the bottle to insulate it before pouring. This prevents your hand from warming the wine. Then, pour about one-third of the glass (around 90 ml). To stop, twist the bottle upwards gently to prevent overpouring.
