A thirst for knowledge

Simple wine tips

wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom Wine glasses That\'ll make the whole drinking experience more pleasurable. Here\'s the first...

Buy decent wine glasses
Though expensive, they are a good investment. Look at www.wineware.co.uk for a good selection. Never wash wine glasses in the dishwasher, and make sure they are dry, clean, and odour-free before tasting.

Getting started

wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom Open wine Open the wine just before tasting. If it\'s white wine at fridge temperature, let it warm up for a few minutes in the glass. Don\'t taste in a kitchen filled with cooking smells - they\'ll complicate things for your nose. And the same applies to scent: taste before you spray on the Chanel.

Eyes first?

wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom Bottles of wine Wine professionals need to pay close attention to the colour of a wine. You do not, but a quick check never hurts. Whites can range from almost clear to deep yellow/light amber. If it\'s a wine that you know is normally very pale, a deeper colour may indicate a problem (usually oxidation, air contact due to a faulty closure). With red wines, a brick-like colour is normal in an older bottle but may indicate a fault in a young wine.

Getting sniffy

wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom WIne grapes Your nose is the first guide to what\'s in the glass. Swirl the glass (this releases volatile aromas), then stick your nose in with your mouth open a little, and give a deep, swift sniff. Decide whether it\'s an appealing impression. Try to see if the aromas remind you of anything else. This is a useful way of "fixing" your impressions of a particular wine for future reference. For instance, the Churton Sauvignon Blanc in this month\'s GH Wine Club offering has strong aromas of gooseberry. If you buy a case, see if you agree with this view.

The main event

wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom 123 Woman drinking wine

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.

Further education

books to read,wine,Good Housekeeping,kitchen wisdom Woman reading wine books The best book on the subject is Michael Schuster’s Essential Winetasting (Mitchell Beazley, £15.99). If you want to learn with other people (whose opinions will help you form your own), the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (www.wset.co.uk), and Wine Education Service (www.wine-education-service.co.uk) offer courses nationwide. In London, the auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s both offer wine courses. Finally: I’ve sent many friends and colleagues to Michael Schuster’s home-based courses (www.schuster.f9.co.uk) and received 100 per cent glowing reports.

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