| If you enjoy wine and your friends enjoy wine, a | | | | will also want to start with lighter and simpler |
| casual wine tasting can be a great way to enjoy | | | | wines and then move on to the drier and heavier |
| wine together and test each other's palates. You | | | | wines. You will not taste your white wines as well |
| can hold blind tastings if you really want to test | | | | as if you drink the heavier and dry wines first. If |
| your skills and the skills of your friends, or you | | | | you must reuse a glass, swirl some water around |
| can just get together and try out the different | | | | in it and dry it with a clean cloth so that the |
| types of wines that you and your friends enjoy. | | | | water does not dilute the wine. |
| Many formal wine tastings do not allow you to | | | | Begin by looking at the wine and observing its |
| swallow the wine. The tasting is simply to get the | | | | clarity and color. A wine is judged on its color, |
| taste, smell the bouquet and enjoy the overall | | | | aroma and taste. Hold the wine up to a light and |
| experience of the wine. At your casual tasting | | | | note the color of the wine. The wine should also |
| you can feel free to allow your guests to drink | | | | appear to be clear and cloudy. Next, tip the glass |
| the wine, but there may be sobriety issues if you | | | | slightly and swirl it gently. The wine flows around |
| do this. It is also important to realize that you | | | | the glass and if the wine clings and dribbles down |
| may not get the full flavor and effect of the wine | | | | the side in "legs" or stripes, this mean that the |
| as you get deeper into the tastings. | | | | wine is a medium bodied wine. If the wine forms |
| Either way that you perform your tasting you will | | | | a sheet, it is a full-bodied wine. |
| want to have clean glasses for each person and | | | | Next, tip the glass and swirl the wine around while |
| each bottle. You will also need a clean white | | | | holding it a little bit away from your nose. This |
| tablecloth. The white tablecloth will allow you to | | | | helps to increase the amount of scent that is |
| get a good view of the wine. The tablecloth | | | | available for your nose to smell. Inhale the wine |
| allows you to see the wine's body and any | | | | deeply and then move it away, this will keep you |
| sediment that may be in the glass from an aged | | | | from becoming overwhelmed by the aroma. You |
| wine. Candlelight will also allow you to see the wine | | | | may be able to smell fruit, yeast, grass, or earth |
| clearly and any sediment that may be in the | | | | in the wine. |
| bottle or decanter. Clean glasses are extremely | | | | The last step is to taste the wine. Take a small |
| important, as any residue in the glass will cause | | | | sip and push it up in front of your mouth and then |
| your wine to have an impure taste. | | | | inhale through your teeth. Slosh the wine around in |
| To help keep the event easy, ask your guests to | | | | your mouth and cover your tongue with it. You |
| bring a bottle of their favorite wine. You may also | | | | are going to want to taste the predominant |
| need them to bring their own glasses if you do | | | | tastes at first and then the secondary tastes that |
| not have enough. You will also need some | | | | appear. Is the wine's taste complex? Does it have |
| crackers or bread to help cleanse the palate as | | | | a wood-taste? |
| well as room temperature water. Cold water will | | | | Take a moment between wines to rinse your |
| shock your taste buds. | | | | mouth and take a bite of unsalted crackers or |
| You will want to decant your red wines. If you | | | | bread. This will help to clear the taste from the |
| cannot decant them all at once, you may want to | | | | previous wines. If you hold a blind tasting, place |
| pour a small amount in each glass and allow them | | | | the bottles in brown bags or remove the labels. |
| to breathe a bit. The more air contact the wine | | | | Have your guests make notes and guess what |
| has, the better they will taste. You may also | | | | the varietals and brands are. |
| choose to explore the difference that decanting | | | | Wine tastings don't have to be formal affairs. |
| makes. Taste the wine at ten and fifteen minute | | | | They can be very casual and you can have a lot |
| intervals. White and blush wine should be chilled | | | | of fun with it. There are even wine tasting kits |
| slightly before serving. | | | | that you can buy to supply you with the |
| When you taste your wines, it is a good idea to | | | | necessary bags, tags and other wine information |
| have a paper and pencil available so that your | | | | that you may need. |
| guests can take notes and rank their wines. You | | | | |