When tasting wine, the most important thing is to have fun. Wine is meant to be savored and enjoyed. There are so many different types and varieties of wines to choose from in the marketplace today. The best advice is to try and taste as many wines as you can so you can fully appreciate how different grapes and growing regions affect the way the different wines taste. So go ahead and invite some family and friends over to enjoy some wines with you and have your own tasting!

Tasting wine involves four main components:

1. Looking at the wine in the glass

The first part of doing any wine tasting is to hold your glass up to look at the wine. It helps if you hold it up to a white background such as a napkin or tablecloth.

White wines vary in color from clear to yellow to golden brown. As white wine ages, it becomes darker in color. Red wines vary from red to purple to dark reddish brown. As red wine ages, it will lose color and begin to turn a browner color.

The main factors that affect the color of a wine are the grape variety, the age of the wine and the amount of time, if any, the wine spends in oak barrels.

 

2. Swirling the wine around the glass

To swirl your wine, take the glass by the stem and swirl it around in circles. An easy way to do this is to place your glass on a table and move the glass in a circular motion. Make sure you cover your glass at first so you don't splash your neighbors around you.

So why do you swirl the wine anyway? Simply, to expose the wine to more air so it intensifies the wine's aromas.

Also, when swirling, watch how the wine coats the side of the glass. A wine that has "legs"- streaks of wine that seem to run down the sides -- contains a higher level of alcohol and will have more body.

3. Smelling the wine

To swirl your wine, take the glass by the stem and swirl it around in circles. An easy way to do this is to place your glass on a table and move the glass in a circular motion. Make sure you cover your glass at first so you don't splash your neighbors around you.

So why do you swirl the wine anyway? Simply, to expose the wine to more air so it intensifies the wine's aromas.

Also, when swirling, watch how the wine coats the side of the glass. A wine that has "legs"- streaks of wine that seem to run down the sides -- contains a higher level of alcohol and will have more body.

4. Tasting the wine

Now comes the best part! The overall taste of wine depends on the combination of smells and flavors, so make sure you don't bypass the smelling portion of the tasting.

It is important when tasting wine not to just sip it and swallow it immediately. You taste with your taste buds, so allow the wine to come in contact with all areas of your tongue. Different parts of your tongue are designed to recognize different tastes and flavors:

Sweetness - Tasted by the tip of the tongue. If a wine has any sweetness, you will be able to taste it right away.

Fruity Characteristics - Tasted in the middle of the tongue after the sweetness is detected.

Acidity - Tasted on the sides of the tongue. Acidity is easier to taste in whites than in reds.

Tannins - Tasted in the middle of the tongue. Red wines and white wines aged in wood contain tannins which tend to feel astringent on the palate. It can leave your mouth feeling dry when too much is present.

When tasting wine, you are looking for a balance of the following characteristics:

Body - The weight of the wine in your mouth. The higher the level of alcohol, the fuller the body.

Sweetness - A result of residual sugar left in the wine after fermentation. A dry wine has no discernible sweetness.

Fruitiness - The amount and intensity of fruit flavor.

Acidity - Acid gives the wine a fresh and crisp taste.

Tannins - The bitterness or astringent taste that comes from the grape skins and stems. It adds to the structure and finish of the wine.

It is always helpful to take notes on the wines you taste. Make sure to capture their look, smell and taste. Most of all, just have fun with the whole experience. Wine is made to be savored and enjoyed!

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