Swirl, Sniff, Taste

There is more to tasting wine than merely sipping - it is an active experience that engages all of your senses. A wine tasting party is the ideal forum for exploring the complex layers beneath the surface of your favorite wines. Bring your friends on a sensory journey to taste, learn and truly experience wine.

Tip: The order in which you taste the wines impacts your perception of the aromas and flavors. Be sure to taste from dry to sweet for white wines and from light- to full-bodied for red wines. If you are mixing whites and reds, always begin with the white wines.

Look
Before your lips meet the glass, take a look at the wine. Hold your glass to the light - preferably in front of a white surface - and examine the color. Even in the same varietal, the color of a red wine can fluctuate from strawberry pink to deep burgundy, and your favorite white wine may be a pale yellow or a vibrant gold.

Swirl and Sniff
Swirl the wine in your glass to release its full range of aromas. Sniff quickly for a first impression; then inhale deeply to take in the various layers of scent. What comes to mind first? Ripe berries or citrus? Fresh coffee or wood smoke? Dense trees or rich chocolate?

Taste…Slowly
Take a sip and consider the feel of the wine on your tongue. Is it light- or full-bodied? Silky smooth or velvety?

Absorb the flavors swirling around your mouth. Can you identify any specific flavors? Do you detect a hint of cherry or grapefruit? Toasted vanilla or cinnamon spice? Which flavors do your guests notice? The group is likely to sense a range of different flavors. Remember, your palate is as unique as each wine it tastes.

Swallow
Savor the experience and enjoy the taste the wine leaves behind on your palate. Return to this wine later in the evening. Has the aroma or flavor changed with time? Have the foods you've tasted impacted the flavor of the wine?