Many people can appreciate wine, but learning how to distinguish the delicate tastes that make each bottle unique requires a bit of knowledge and technique. If you're new to drinking wine, attending wine tastings is an enlightening and exciting way to learn about the nuances of wine. Here's a guide to help you get the most out of your next winery visit. 

4 Essential Steps in Wine Tasting

1. See

A wine's appearance can tell volumes about the grape varietal, aging processes, and most importantly, how it's going to taste. Visual cues like colors, intensity, and clarity may give you a clue to the acidity and flavor's intensity. During wine tastings, the room will be well-lit to let tasters take a closer look at their drinks.  Hold the glass up to the light or against a white background and note the wine's color. 

2. Swirl

Aerating the wine releases its aromas and flavors. To aerate the wine, keep your glass on a flat surface, hold the stem, then make gentle circles. While swirling, observe how quickly the wine slides down the sides of the glass. Slow-moving streaks (also called tears or legs), indicate a denser, sweeter wine, as well as higher alcohol concentration.  

3. Sniff

You can detect certain elements and tastes through the wine's bouquet, or combination of aromas. When sniffing, slightly open your mouth as you inhale. Think about what you could smell; was it fruity, herby, or flowery? If the wine reminds you of a particular mood or experience, feel free to share that with your wine tasting guide and group.

4. Sip

Take a large sip of the wine and allow it to saturate your taste buds for a few seconds. Try breathing in through your lips to let it pass over the wine and release more esters or aromas. At this point, assess whether the taste is similar to the flavors you've smelled or different from expected. Slowly tasting the wine lets you identify and evaluate the flavors, textures, weight, acidity in white wines, or astringency in red wines. The more wine tastings you attend, the more nuances you'll detect, opening an entirely new world of wine. 

If you're interested in refining your wine appreciation, it's time to book a wine tasting at Old Pueblo Cellars. This eight-acre vineyard and winery located in Tucscon, AZ produces a fine selection of wines that both sommeliers and budding wine lovers can enjoy. With their private event space and decades of experience, they can help you hold the perfect celebration with private tasting parties and a specially curated menu. Call (520) 551-1011 today to learn more about their availability and grape varieties, or visit their website to view photos of the vineyard.