Wine is most enjoyable when you take the time to appreciate it properly. Having the right equipment and practicing a few tasting techniques can make the experience more rewarding. Make the most of the next bottle of wine you crack open.
Instructions
1. Choose a glass with a thin stem and a delicate lip. The shape of the glass has a psychological effect and can increase your enjoyment of the wine.
2. Don’t fill up the glass. You’ll need room to swirl the wine and to catch the aromas as they release. Pour only a third of a glass. You can always go back for seconds or thirds.
3. Smell the wine immediately after you pour it. Put your nose in the glass, and breathe in deeply. Try to identify the aromas that you smell. Does it remind you of berries, citrus or vanilla?
4. Rest the glass on the table and swirl it three or four times.
5. Smell the wine again and notice how it has changed. As more air gets into the wine, more aromas are released. Swirl again and smell again, if you wish.
6. Take a sip, not a gulp. Move the wine around your mouth to hit all of your taste buds, and swallow slowly.
7. Pair wine with foods that will complement it. Reds go well with red meat and tomato-based dishes. White wines pair nicely with fish, light chicken dishes and sometimes dessert.
Tags: Smell wine