Tasting Versus Drinking

Everyone knows how to drink wine, but tasting wine requires a little more thought. Most wine has subtleties of aroma, taste and texture that you cannot appreciate fully when you simply drink a glass of wine in a social situation. When you are in a bar or restaurant, there may also be environmental factors that can distract you from the wine, such as tobacco smoke and perfume smells, or the wine might be the wrong temperature to show off its intricacies.

Tasting wine is all about taking time to think about what you are drinking. If you give yourself a few minutes to focus on a wine - to look at it, smell it and then taste it - you will be able to experience all of its nuances and enjoy the complexity of the wine entirely. You will be doing justice to the wine and to yourself. Furthermore, as you slow down the process to savour what you are drinking, you will also be able to expand your knowledge and understanding of individual wines.