Wine tasting is a popular pastime enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Enjoying a good red wine is quite simple when you know drink it properly. If you're worried about standing out in a crowd of very experienced wine drinkers, learn a few simple rules to help you appreciate wine like a pro.
Instructions
1. Uncork your bottle of wine. Red wine needs to be properly oxygenated before it is consumed. This is what wine aficionados mean when they say that the wine needs to "breath." Allow the open bottle to sit for several minutes before pouring.
2. Pour yourself a glass of wine, and again, let it sit. The larger surface area of the wine in your glass (as opposed to the wine in the bottle) allows even more oxygen to enter the mix. Proper wine etiquette demands that you pour wine for women first. If you are ordering at a restaurant, however, the waiter may pour the buyer's glass first.
3. Use a red wine glass that has a large bowl and short stem. The large bowl gives it greater surface area to breath, and the short stem keeps the wine closer to your hand and your body heat. Red wine is best when served close to room temperature.
4. Swirl your wine glass gently to release the vapors.
5. Inhale the aroma of the wine deeply through your nose. Taste and smell are highly correlated, and this will help you get maximum enjoyment from your wine. The smell of the wine is referred to as its "bouquet," and different wines all have their own bouquet.
6. Look at your wine. Visual inspection is all part of the appreciation and is part of good etiquette. Notice the "legs" of your wine. Legs are the rivulets that run down the sides of the glass after it is swirled. Good legs are typically a sign of a high-quality red wine.
7. Inspect the color and clarity of your wine by visually assessing it against a white backdrop. White tablecloths provide the perfect backdrop for inspecting wine.
8. Drink your wine slowly in sips. Wine is meant to be tasted, not gulped down. Allow it to roll over the front part of your tongue, then swallow it.
9. Cleanse your palette by consuming water if you are tasting several different types of wine.
Tags: your wine, large bowl, short stem, surface area, wine glass, wine needs