Tasting has often been viewed as too complicated or snobbish - both myths! Wine tasting is subjective, fun for anyone who loves wine and a matter of personal preference. Here are some guidelines to assist you in your tasting journey.

 

• Appearance. Look for not only the colour but also the clarity of a wine. Tilt the glass and use a white background against the glass (paper or table cloth) and remember red wines become paler with age, whites become darker.

• Aroma. I highly recommend closing your eyes when you breathe in a wine’s aromas to help focus on the scents that are present. Generally speaking, the better quality wines are more interesting in their bouquet.

• Taste. Swirl first to release the volatile aromas. Take a big sip of wine and try to draw in some air. Because your tongue can pick up sweetness at the front, acidity at the sides and bitterness at the back, it’s important to let the wine reach all parts of your mouth and sit briefly before you swallow or spit.

• Finish. After you swallow your wine, pull in air to pick up the scents from the back nasal cavity! This will assist in judging the wine’s finish - that lovely lingering mouth feel!

• Keep a journal of the wines you like and dislike. Use a simple ranking system and record all the details of a wine. Include the wine name, year, grape type, region of origin, and Winery, Domaine or Chateau.

• We’ve created a 10 point scale (see our tasting notes) to evaluate our wines. This can be used by beginners and experts alike.