Getting to know someone over a glass of wine is a perfect idea not only because it is considered a very social drink, but because discussing wine itself can help you get over the initial nerves when talking to a new romantic interest. This guide goes through the basics of wine tasting etiquette, giving a breakdown of all you need to know.

During wine tasting you unlock your senses, beginning with sight. Look at the colour and opacity of the wine; you can unpack a lot about it though its appearance. For example, lighter white wines are pale in colour whilst full-bodied white wines have rich more golden tones. Additionally, light hued red wines are less opaque and are light-bodied, and dark hued red wines denote a fuller body.

Next swirl and smell. By swirling your glass, you allow the wine to ‘breathe’ by adding in oxygen. This opens up the flavour and is considered as improving its taste. Your nose is the key to your palate when tasting wine since a lot of your satisfaction in relation to wine is through its smell. Use this time to try to identify the notes of the wine, you can discuss with others to see if they pick up on any other notes.

Now the moment you have been waiting for, sip. The standard method to this is to roll the wine around your mouth whilst sucking in air, this allows the wine to hit the different areas of the tongue. You may be experience some sweet, acidic or bitter flavours – to take it all in, small sips are encouraged so that you can completely experience all the flavour it has to offer.

The final step is to savour and this comes from the sensation you get from swallowing the wine. This taste can differ from what you identify on your palate. At this stage, you look for the length of time the wine taste lingers with you. Take this moment to reflect and assess upon what you have just had.

Here are a few additional tips for when you attend a wine tasting event, be sure to not wear any overpowering fragrances as this can take away from the experience. Also hold your glass from the stem so that your hand does not warm up the wine. Most importantly immerse yourself into the experience, keep an open mind and enjoy your company; wine tasting is a great way to socialise and connect with different people.

Now you’ve been equipped with the basics, you can show off and build upon your new skills at our wine tasting events! The great thing about wine tasting is that you can share your knowledge as well as learn from others, which makes it a great way to break the ice!