A thirst for knowledge

The main event

Take a generous sip and swirl it gently in your mouth with your mouth open little bit. This gets air into the wine and releases its flavours. Keep the wine in there for a good few moments, moving it around, and think about the taste. Is it pleasant? Does it have too much sweetness, or feel too acidic (tart and sharp on the tongue)? If it's red wine, does it make your mouth pucker? Does it remind you of other flavours - fruit, flowers, anything? Does the taste linger pleasantly in the mouth after you've swallowed? Again, make a mental note for future reference.

Spitting or swallowing
In a professional tasting of dozens or hundreds of wines, spitting is essential. At home, you're allowed to swallow.

Trust your senses!
There are no rights and wrongs in wine tasting. Your judgement is what matters.

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