How to Taste Wine Like a Pro (in 3 Easy Steps)

Olivier Maillard

There are few things we at The Slow Road appreciate more than fine wine—but one of them may be sparing ourselves from embarrassment as we sip. Fortunately, we’ve consulted a few of our expert friends and cobbled together three simple steps for sipping like a sommelier.

Three Easy Steps to Sip Like a Pro

1. The Inspection

Take a good look at the wine in your glass. It is best to view the wine against a white background. The colour of the wine can give you an idea of its age. Many red wines, for instance, start life deeply purple in colour, but with age this intensity fades. With many white wines, the relation between colour and age is reversed. White wines from cold climates tend to be less richly coloured. (Try this: turn to the person next to you and say “great legs!” Please note that The Slow Road cannot be held accountable should your sipping companion fail to realize you were talking about the wine.)

2. Sniffing

Consider this your secret weapon for appearing an oenological expert. First, swirl the wine in your glass. Then stick your nose into the glass on a 45-degree angle (the angle is a dead give away that you’re a real pro) and have a good sniff. What aromas do you smell? Young wines often have primary, fruity aromas (black currant, raspberries), while older ones are characterized by secondary, earthy or animalistic smells.