7 Tips to master wine tasting

1. SWIRL & SNIFF

Before you taste the wine, give the glass a gentle swirl to allow the wine to breathe and ensures it comes into contact with oxygen in the air, along with releasing fragrances. Then place your nose close to the glass rim, and your tongue to the roof of your mouth and breathe in the wine aromas. What are you smelling? What does the aroma make you think the wine will taste like?

2. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRINK IT ALL

There will be two situations where you may not want to finish the wine in your glass. First, you may not like that particular vintage. Everybody has a personal preference, just because someone likes a certain type doesn’t mean you need to as well. Therefore, you are not obligated to finish that glass. Secondly, if you are going to be doing a lot of tasting, you may wish to pace yourself, and remain sober.

The server will not be offended if you choose to pour the rest of the wine into the bucket - a bucket is usually provided at wine tastings for exactly this purpose.

3. REALISE YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AN EXPERT

To start tasting wine, you do not need to be an expert in vintages, aromas, tannins, acids, appellations, varietals, or any of the other vineyard lingo!

However, wine chemistry can be an interesting subject... So, if you are intrigued, then ask questions, and you will pick up little bits and pieces as you go. If you're not interested, then no worries - just enjoy your glass!

4. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE ON GOOD WINE

When tasting wine, try not to be too influenced by the bottle price. Cheaper wine can be very tasty too, although you may find it does not have all the nuances of flavour that the pricey bottle has. In fact, very expensive, aged wine can be an acquired taste.

5. CLEAR YOUR PALATE BETWEEN TASTINGS

If you are tasting a number of different wines, make sure to clear your palate between glasses by drinking a little water or snacking on a cracker, plain nuts or a mild cheese. This way, you will be able to taste the next glass of wine "fresh", without the lingering flavours of the previous wine.

6. AVOID COMPETING AROMAS

When tasting wine, it's best to avoid other fragrances that might compete with the delicate aromas of the wine. Try not to wear a strong perfume or smoke whilst you are tasting wine. Be mindful of air fresheners, strong cooking smells or scented candles if you are tasting wine at home.

7. TASTE FROM LIGHT TO FULL-BODIED WINES

To finish off our list of wine tasting tips - make sure you are tasting wines in the right order.

If you're tasting multiple wine varieties, then begin with the lighter wines, sparkling wines and white wines, proceed to the lighter reds, such as Pinot Noir and Beaujolais, then move onto reds with more body like Cabernet, and finish with any sweet dessert wines such as Sauternes. Rinse your glass between wines and shake off any water droplets.

The world of wine tasting may seem overwhelming. But keep practicing these wine tasting tips each time you enjoy a different variety of wine. Before you know it, you'll become an expert on what you enjoy in a glass of wine and what you'd prefer to pass on.