How To Identify Wine Like An Expert

Wine appreciation involves much more than just drinking your favourite beverage. You may not be a qualified sommelier, but you can still learn to taste and analyse wine with the skill and nuance of a professional. If you have a sophisticated palate, you may already be able to pick out the various notes and characteristics of the wines you enjoy, so why not take it one step further? Here are some tips to help you identify wine like an expert. 

Examine The Label

It may seem like cheating, but the easiest way to obtain information about a wine is to read the label, which will list useful information, including the name of the producer, the country of origin and the vintage. Before you start learning how to identify wine simply by using nought but your sense of taste and smell, it is important to familiarise yourself with as many varieties as possible. This way, you will start to recognise similarities and notice subtle differences without having to read the label beforehand. 

Consider The Colour

The colour of a wine can tell you a lot about its character. While the visual difference between red, rosé and white wine is obvious, each variety has a remarkable diversity of colours. For example, red wines range from deceptively pink and amber to deep, rich garnet and maroon. In terms of white wine, green hues suggest savoury flavours of bell pepper and olive, common in wines like sauvignon blanc. On the other hand, golden-copper yellow wines, like Sauternes, tend to be sweeter and more fruit-forward with elements of apricot and peach. 

Swirl The Wine

Once you’ve visually inspected the colour of a wine, gently swirl it around the glass. This will help to separate and release the intricate aromas, improving the drinking experience. However, swirling can also tell you valuable information about the wine you are about to taste. For example, consider the consistency of the wine as it clings to the sides of the glass - a viscous consistency may indicate a sweeter or fuller-bodied wine. Additionally, swirling your wine will help you to get a better look at its colour. 

Use Your Nose

When it comes to wine tasting, your nose is your most important tool. Flavour is a complex combination of taste, smell, texture, temperature, and other factors. As such, aroma plays a significant role in our overall perception of flavour. In fact, our sense of smell is responsible for up to 80% of what we taste. Once you’ve swirled your wine, releasing the bouquet, put your nose into the glass and experience the aromas. Smelling a wine can tell you numerous key characteristics, including its acidity level, alcohol content and grape variety, so don’t skip this crucial step! 

Coat Your Tongue

Now it’s time to take a sip! If you’re blind-tasting a wine, you may have already guessed the variety from the information gathered by smelling it. If not, sipping the wine and allowing it to coat your palate will seal the deal. As well as the taste, consider the consistency. If a wine feels syrupy and leaves your lips ever so slightly sticky, it is likely a sweet variety like Riesling or Gewurztraminer. Wines with high acidity, like Pinot Noir and Grenache, feel sharper and taste more tart on the palate.

Learn Some Wine Terminology

When you hear wine experts use terms like “bouquet”, “finish”, and “legs”, it may sound peculiar, even pretentious. However, each term serves a purpose. If you're just starting out with wine tasting, familiarising yourself with some common words and phrases can be beneficial, allowing you to identify and understand different wines. Once you’ve acquired the vocabulary to describe flavours, aromas, textures, and characteristics, you will be better equipped to identify, discuss and recommend wines. 

Attend Wine-Tasting Events

Whether or not you are on a journey to becoming a fully-fledged wine expert, a wine-tasting event can be a wonderful way to spend an evening. Not only will you have the opportunity to sample various wines from around the world, but these events will allow you to meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for viniculture. Most wine-tasting events are hosted at restaurants, vineyards and independent merchants, so why not book yourself in for an unforgettable experience?