How to taste wine

When partaking in a wine tasting, you should proceed systematically:

The eyes

The visual test will give you your first insights:

• clarity, brilliance, shade and colour depth
• carbonic bubbles (perlage)
• viscosity (fluidity)
  

The nose

Our olfactory organ differentiates more precisely than the tongue:

• clarity
• intensity
• aromas (primary, secondary and tertiary aromas)

When performing a smell test, don’t inhale too deeply, otherwise your olfactory nerves will be desensitized.

The palate

Take a big sip and keep the wine in your mouth for six to eight seconds. You will notice:

• sweetness, acidity, salinity, bitterness
• fluidity and viscosity
• sprightliness, astringency, burning sensation
• finish (sharp, aggressive)

Overall impression

The quality criteria are:

• intensity, complexity
• delicacy, harmony
• typicality, individual character