Let me tell you all about how wine tasting works and give you some tips about the best wine glasses to enjoy it to the fullest.
Wine tasting and the colors of wine
Wine tasting, how does it work exactly? You know it’s not just about drinking. First of all, you look at the color of the wine. Red, white, rosé – each color reveals something about what to expect in terms of taste.
White wines range in color from pale green to deep yellow or golden. White wines are bright and transparent because they had little to no contact with the grape skin. Red wines can be light red with all variations to rusty brown. Dark colors often reveal a wine that is rich in flavor and character. Rosé ranges from light- to dark pink or even orange. Rosé wines are made from red grapes, but the juice remains in contact with the skins for only a short time, resulting in their distinctive color.
You can see the color and brightness of the wine looking straight down in your glass, but also by tilting the glass slightly, holding it against a neutral background.
Wine swirling
You don’t taste wine just by looking and smelling. Swirling is also an important part. It will bring oxygen to the wine and release the aromas in the glass. This improves your tasting experience. You can swirl by placing your glass on the table, holding it by the stem and turning it in small circles. You can also do this in the air. Just make small subtle movements.
Different smells of wine
The next step is the smelling. Here’s a secret: You don’t have to have a super-sensitive nose to enjoy wine tasting.
Smell the wine as if it were your first time snacking on ice cream – eager and curious! Stick your nose deep into the glass and briefly sniff the scent of the wine.
You’ll be amazed at what you can smell: fruity aromas, spicy notes, flowers or perhaps a hint of grandma’s apple pie.
How wine tasting works? Identifying flavors
The fun part is the tasting ofcourse. Take a sip (slurping is allowed!) and let the wine coat your mouth. Try to identify different flavors. Maybe you’ll taste cherries, maybe some vanilla or caramel – it doesn’t matter if you don’t have words to describe it. Feel the sensations in your mouth and in your throat. If you have a lot of wines to taste, you can spit the wine in the appropriate vessel.
Wine tasting is all about discovery, experimenting and, above all, having fun. There is no “right” or “wrong,” just your personal journey through the wonderful world of wine.
Enjoying with the best wine glass
If you really want to enjoy wine, use the glasses that you love, that make you feel good. After all, it’s all about the experience! I personally go 100% for Zieher glasses. These glasses make my wine tasting experience a celebration. Moreover, I would just want to put them on my table as a piece of art, that’s how beautiful they are.
I always have my Zieher glass with me on the go as you can see here on Instagram. I also love glasses from Zalto and from Gabriel-Glass.
Did you get excited? You can order my favorite wine glasses here. Here you can find more of my favorite wine accessories to make wine tasting a celebration.